housing and a whole new international dimension to the school.

Board of Governors chair Brian Hall and College president George Cook said the College had initiated two research projects intended to upgrade the quality of education.

One project will determine if support exists for residential housing and the other will explore the viability of establishing four-year degree programmes.

Mr. Hall said a survey about on-campus housing would be conducted -- interviewing about 1,000 people including students, parents, politicians, and community leaders -- and is expected to be completed by mid-October.

If the plan wins approval from the public and private sectors, local students could be living on campus as soon as the fall semester, 2000.

Mr. Hall stressed the importance of student housing for the future development of the College.

"Without a residential programme, the College will continue to be viewed as an extension of a day school,'' he noted.

He said an on-campus housing facility would create a "strong sense of college spirit and identity'' for local students.

Both Mr. Hall and Mr. Cook outlined the advantages on-campus housing would have from an international perspective.

Mr. Cook stated that the housing could be used during the summer months by visiting business executives, thus utilising the College's facilities year-round.

And he said residential housing would make the College more attractive to international students.

He noted that some Bermudian students may experience a lack of cultural awareness -- which could be offset by exposure to a more diverse student body.

"There is great potential to internationalise the institution,'' he said, adding that local students' needs were the top priority.

HOUSING HSG