The research study looks at both macro and micro criteria dealing with the context and issues of student dormitories, and their impact on the surrounding environment and vitality of the area.In macro planning, the main issues is whether dormitory designs should be integrated with the town either through activities or physical planning (location), or a combination of the two. Here, the use of a macro scale questionnaire attempted to ask questions as to whether Ball State’s Campus was integrated with the community. The answers received showed a disapproval of campus integration with the community. This can be attributed to the poor image which Muncie displays. The common complaints can be seen in the booklet.In the micro scale of planning, a number of questions are presented. Included in these questions are five hypotheses in which I formulated and intended to prove with another micro scale questionnaire and observations done in the village at Ball State University. The hypotheses are as follow:1.) If the dormitory complex was designed as a small village of detached units instead of a single, centralized facility, then the dormitory resident would increase the possibility of creating a variety of social communities of equal interests and locations.2.) If the dormitory complex was designed as a small village of detached units, then multi-use nodes should be incorporated as anchors to draw dormitory residents as well as the campus community and community at large through the site.3.) If leisure, sports recreation, and leisure recreation were incorporated in dormitory design, then this will enhance the vitality and popularity of the complex.4.) If the dormitory complex was designed as a small village of detached units thus eliminating the long, double loaded corridor, then the possibility for suite type room arrangements could provide greater privacy between resident’s rooms and make possible a variety of smaller, social communities.5.) If greater flexibility in room design and layout were left open to the student, then a greater sense of individuality and lesser degree of ‘institutionalized feelings’ could be achieved.This study includes 3 parts: Macro scale, micro scale, and building type studies.