Florence Schneider Hall

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Florence Schnieder Hall

Florence Schneider Hall is home to The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. Originally built in 1929 using Bowling Green limestone, the building first served as an all-female residence hall and has a long history on Western Kentucky University’s campus. Over time, it has undergone several name changes—from West Hall, to Whitestone Hall, and eventually to its current namesake, Florence Schneider Hall.

Florence Schneider was a longtime WKU administrator who served the university in a variety of roles, including stenographer (1910–1917), bookkeeper (1917–1920), registrar (1920–1924), bursar (1924–1956), and executive secretary-treasurer of the College Heights Foundation (1956–1958). When she retired in 1958, she had served the university longer than anyone else in its history. In 2007, Florence Schneider Hall was renovated to meet the unique needs of The Gatton Academy.

Safety

Florence Schneider Hall is designed with safety in mind, featuring modern security systems and residential front desk staffed 24-hours a day while students are in residence. Only Gatton Academy students, staff members, and authorized guests have access to the building. Each student has unique access to their assigned residential wing and room. The residence hall is served by rapid response by the WKU Police Department in emergency situations.

Common Spaces

Florence Schneider Hall includes common spaces to study, socialize, and live. The building includes a computer lab, a kitchen, a laundry room, a makerspace, several study nooks, and several large multipurpose meeting rooms for school activities, club meetings, studying, and socializing. Staff offices for The Gatton Academy and The Center for Gifted Studies are located on the first floor of the building.

Rooms

Housing in Florence Schneider Hall is suite-style, partially furnished to accommodate two students with a shared bathroom connected to another room of two. Living with a roommate is a core part of the Gatton experience. Each room is approximately 12’ x 15’ and furnished with two lofted beds, bed ladders, dressers, wardrobes, desks, and chairs. Students are encouraged to coordinate with their roommate to bring additional essentials and décor to make their room a home. Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and bathrooms.

A core aspect of The Gatton Academy residential experience is living with a roommate. In the first five weeks of the semester, each student will work through a roommate contract with their roommate their wing’s Residential Counselor will keep on file.  The contract will be referred to throughout the year. More information about rooms and room assignments is provided in the student handbook.