Rooming process to focus on freshmen

New doors are opening as the housing process goes through a remodeling project.

In previous years, seniors claimed their precedence over the underclassmen, leaving minimum housing for incoming freshmen. Many of the new students were placed in university housing located within walking distance of campus.

The latest system will focus on freshmen instead of upperclassmen. One reason they have become the priority is they are new to the freedom and responsibilities of being college students. Seniors are preparing to graduate and live on their own, and many move off campus anyway.

In previous years, the university has set aside enough housing to occupy the upcoming seniors who wish to have it. However, incoming freshmen will receive housing assignments based on when theyapplied, and will be placed in specific sections of traditional dorms.

Students are  voicing opinions. Several have expressed concerns and irritation about the new process.

Freshman chemistry major Scotty Henriquez said, “I think you should room with upperclassmen.”
He had an older roommate and explained how the experience helped him in areas freshmen do not know or understand, such as school traditions and which classes are most helpful.

The new process will allow sophomores, juniors and seniors to room together, but the mix will place them near the end of the line. Incoming freshmen are being placed in clusters.

Some students took another view on the subject.

Sophomore education major Sarah Congdon said the current system was outdated and needed an update. While she does not agree with some changes, she says they could not be done another way. She believes the new procedure will be beneficial overall.

"Changing is always an inconvenience because it’s something new and something unfamiliar,” she said. “I know it’s going to be better. It’s just inconvenient at the point of change.”

The university is confident in its decision. Associate Dean of Students and Director of Resident Life Donna Plank, along with Resident Directors Rebekah Retta, Liz Lockwood and Tim Kemp, researched the campus logistics of the past 10 years and watched the processes of about 40 other campuses. The new changes have taken place or are in the process of changing at other schools.

Plank said, “We are giving priority to the students who have the greatest needs. We realize this is a significant change from the way we have done things in the past, but we believe we are doing the right thing.”

The dorm selections will take place in Shelton Theater over a three-day period.
Round one will be held on Monday, April 9, for continuing freshmen and sophomores wishing to live in the dorms, Beall, Clark or Ferguson Hall.

Session one is at 3:30 p.m. and is for students with medical needs or scholarships requiring them to live on campus. Session two is for continuing freshmen at 4 p.m. Session three is for sophomores and is at 5:30 p.m. This round is based on hours.

Round two will take place on Tuesday, April 10. It is for sophomores, juniors and seniors wanting an apartment. It is based on a point system. Juniors have four points, seniors have three and sophomores have two.

Session one, for medical needs, graduating seniors and scholarship students requiring campus housing, meets at 3:30 p.m. Session two is for all other undergraduates wanting an apartment. They meet at 4 p.m.

Groups of people add points together. Larger groups create a better chance of getting their preferred residence.

The last round is Monday, April 16, for Beall, Clark and Ferguson Hall and the dorms.
The first session is for students with more than 30 hours with scholarships requiring campus housing and will meet at 3:30 p.m.

The second session, for the remaining students, will meet at 4 p.m. Another point system will determine placement. Sophomores have four points, juniors have three and seniors have two.
In all rounds, students paired with roommates take priority over singles, and people who are not changing dorms go before those moving in. Singles will always be consolidated.

Students have applied to move into the few campus houses available, so those accommodations are already filled.