Housing: an inside perspective

The Rose-Hulman Office of Student Affairs has begun processing information for 2008–2009 student on-campus housing. This year, Student Affairs decided to change several things about the housing process. They used a flashier advertising campaign, required an intent to live on campus form, implemented a new website that allows students to search for potential roommates, and required a larger housing deposit. The goal of these changes is to simplify the housing process and gain more information about housing trends. Associate Dean of Student Affairs Tom Miller explained, “We really tried to streamline the process this year to allow the process to go more smoothly.”

The first change the Office of Student Affairs implemented was a new advertising strategy. This strategy is entitled, “5 easy steps to on-campus housing.” For this campaign, the office consolidated the housing process into “5 easy steps” and developed an attractive design for the distribution of the steps. The steps were distributed via both campus mailboxes and e-mail on March 3. The steps included receiving the information on March 3, attending an information meeting on March 6, completing and intent form by March 14, receiving a housing preference form on April 28, and completing the housing form with a housing deposit by April 30. If students follow these steps, they will most likely get campus housing; however, there is always a chance of overcrowding, in which case seniors would not be able to live on campus.

During the information meetings on March 6, Miller and Director of Residence Life Erik Hayes informed students about the on-campus housing process. They informed the students of important dates, went over the “5 easy steps to on-campus housing,” and went over common housing mistakes.

One of the most important new developments in the housing process is the intent form. For the first time, the Office of Student Affairs is requiring that students fill out an intent to live on campus form. Students who do not fill out the form will not receive any more information about campus housing. This both motivates students to fill out the form and reduces the email spam received by commuter and graduating students. This form also give the Student Affairs office a better idea of how many students wish to live on campus. There is room for approximately 600 upperclassmen students on campus. As of Tuesday, March 11, 647 students had already expressed interest in living on campus. Of the upperclassmen halls, Percopo, Skinner, and the apartments had been over-requested by over 20%. This may be an indication of an upcoming over-crowding problem, or students who filled out the form may decide to live off campus. The intent forms are due on Friday, March 14.

The Residence Hall Association has developed a website that allows students to look for roommates. If students are interested in living in Skinner, Percopo, or the apartments, they must organize themselves in groups of four suitemates. Students who are looking for other students to make a group of four can use this website to search for other students looking for roommates. To access this website, go to http://www.rose-hulman.edu/RHA and click on “Find-A-Roommate.”

On April 28, students who filled out the intent form will have access to housing preference forms on BannerWeb. This form allows students to specify their roommates and state their preference of residence hall and meal plan. These forms are due on banner web by April 30. Students must also include a $200 housing deposit that should be turned in to the Student Financial Services Office by the same date.