Residence Life under contruction
Changes to transfer placement and three senior apartments
Kristin Fitzgerald
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News
Students have recently been given the ability to "buyout" an empty space left by a former roommate. Residents who currently have a multiple person room and have experienced the leaving of a roommate can transform them into singles by purchasing the vacancy. This will ensure that no new students will be placed unexpectedly in their rooms throughout the remainder of their time there. Additionally, the resident now has the ability to request that a specific individual be placed with them. This plan has been instated in order to give students more control over their room.
"I think the buyout plan is great," said Jeremy Chapline, junior resident student. "I wanted to do it last year in McCormack. My roommate moved out and I wanted to keep the room, but I couldn't. They told me I had to fill it to capacity."
Chapline is extremely supportive of the newly available process and feels that other students will also have positive reactions.
Many colleges and universities already offer this type of arrangement during the spring semester, a time when numerous vacancies arise due to transfers, study abroad, and various other reasons. The plan will not be necessary during the fall because residence halls are typically filled to capacity at that time.
Students were given until Jan. 30 to capitalize on this opportunity. "As with any new process, there are always a few bumps along the road," said Jennifer Richardson, Director of Residence Life. "But as questions arise, we are responding to them. The Office of Residence Life plans to evaluate the effectiveness and the necessity of the buyout in order to prepare for the future.
The Office of Residence Life has also recently decided to remove three houses from student housing to convert them into offices. The houses being changed, 224 Partridge, 226 Partridge, and 228 Partridge, have not been cost effective to manage as student residences. Due to their inefficient setup, they allow for only two students to be placed in each house, making the maintenance cost too great.
"There has not been a final decision made at this time as to what the houses will be used for in the fall," said Richardson. As for how the removed residence slots will be compensated for, Residence Life is planning to continue assessing possible locations to replace the three houses.
The decision to remove the three houses from the student housing pool was made in association with of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Facilities.
"I think the buyout plan is great," said Jeremy Chapline, junior resident student. "I wanted to do it last year in McCormack. My roommate moved out and I wanted to keep the room, but I couldn't. They told me I had to fill it to capacity."
Chapline is extremely supportive of the newly available process and feels that other students will also have positive reactions.
Many colleges and universities already offer this type of arrangement during the spring semester, a time when numerous vacancies arise due to transfers, study abroad, and various other reasons. The plan will not be necessary during the fall because residence halls are typically filled to capacity at that time.
Students were given until Jan. 30 to capitalize on this opportunity. "As with any new process, there are always a few bumps along the road," said Jennifer Richardson, Director of Residence Life. "But as questions arise, we are responding to them. The Office of Residence Life plans to evaluate the effectiveness and the necessity of the buyout in order to prepare for the future.
The Office of Residence Life has also recently decided to remove three houses from student housing to convert them into offices. The houses being changed, 224 Partridge, 226 Partridge, and 228 Partridge, have not been cost effective to manage as student residences. Due to their inefficient setup, they allow for only two students to be placed in each house, making the maintenance cost too great.
"There has not been a final decision made at this time as to what the houses will be used for in the fall," said Richardson. As for how the removed residence slots will be compensated for, Residence Life is planning to continue assessing possible locations to replace the three houses.
The decision to remove the three houses from the student housing pool was made in association with of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Facilities.
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