Purpose: Aims to offer some ways of improving and developing the residents in the dormitory of Tsuyama National College of Technology, Tsuyama, Japan. Design/methodology/approach: Describes how in order to calm the dormitory atmosphere, strict regulations had been adopted since the foundation times for the college, which sometimes led to deplorable happenings. After facing dormitory issues from a new perspective in 1990, school authorities abandoned the allegiance to supervision. The dormitory affairs committee has stimulated the residents' intrinsic motivation since then, leading to the improvements in the dormitory. Describes the course of improvement and the present condition of the dormitory. Findings: Advocates the necessity of broadening residents' horizons to continually improve their quality of life in the dormitory. Research limitations/implications: It would take some years to ascertain our policy to be desirable for the dormitory. During that time, almost the entire membership of the dormitory affairs committee would be replaced, which might lead to a drastic turnabout on dormitory policy. Practical implications: A very useful source of information and impartial advice for the staves who involve in dormitory issues of other colleges. Originality/value: Demonstrates unique policies on improvement for the dormitory, which are different from those adopted in other colleges of technology. (Contains 2 figures.)