The Resident Student
Association (RSA) in each residence hall will hold a series of meetings
beginning Jan. 27 to address reclaiming procedures for on-campus
housing for the 2003-2004 academic year.
“[Students, who are encouraged to attend the meetings, should]
pay attention to the due dates. If not, they may miss their opportunity
to reclaim,” said Winkler Residence Hall resident director
(RD) Miguel A. Hernandez.
Brent Haddas, RD of Hoey Residence Hall, said all residents should
bring any questions they have to the meetings, to inquire about
their individual status and to note important information such as
their social security number, so they can know the appropriate time
to reclaim at the John E. Thomas Building
Stacy R. Sears, assistant director of the Department of Housing
and Residence Life, said for students “to not worry …
let the process go through before worrying about their housing status.”
According to a letter from Richard L. Geis, director of the Department
of Housing and Residence Life, concerning the new changes in residence
hall assignments for the 2003-2004 academic year, rising juniors
and seniors who wish to receive on-campus housing may be denied.
Upperclassmen wishing to return to their on-campus housing must
go through a lottery process.
The department gives figures that predict space is available next
year for less than 5,000 students. An estimated 2,400 freshmen,
1,750 sophomores and 700 upperclassmen will receive on-campus housing.
According to the letter, rising sophomores receive priority next
year. Being the least experienced group of returning students they
are the first group guaranteed on-campus housing.
“I wish that we had enough residence hall rooms on campus to
meet the needs of all of our students, but it does not at this point
appear that we will,” Vice Chancellor for Student Development
Gregory S. Blimling said.
Although the number of incoming freshman, who must live on campus,
remains stable and will continue to do so, the number of upperclassmen
requesting on-campus housing is on the rise with no signs of stagnating.
The 700 rising upperclassmen chosen through the lottery have first
pick of preferred on-campus housing.
Students not chosen in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list
as spaces become available, which will depend on the amount of sophomores
who reclaim.
Although this method of assignment is experimental, many students
will have to make alternate housing options for the next academic
year.
“After talking [at great length] with the Student Government
Association, Student Affairs the Campus Resident Student Association
and staff throughout the university, we decided that this lottery
system offered the best opportunity to provide the most rooms to
the most people in the most equitable way possible,” Blimling
said. |
