2012-13 Acad Yr On-Campus Housing Limited for Current 2nd Year Residents
(Copy of message sent to 2nd year residents regarding limited on-campus housing for 2011-12)
We are sending this message to all residents identified in the Housing Office database as eligible to live off campus for next academic year (beginning August 2011). We know that many of you are already beginning to think about where you will live next year and want to put some information out to you about continuing on-campus options or GU owned off campus rentals.
First, you should know that we house two “categories” of students on campus:
1. First and second year students who are required to live on campus under the University residency requirement. As a University we only guarantee housing to students during the first two years of your stay at Gonzaga (or until you turn 21 or have lived four semesters in on campus housing whichever comes first).
2. Students wishing to continue living on campus for third, fourth and graduate years while attending Gonzaga. These students no longer are required to live on campus and we do not guarantee all students in this category a space to live. But the University has chosen to provide such options as Kennedy and Corkery and Burch Apartments and our off-campus theme houses or apartment rentals as a way of meeting some of the housing needs of this category.
You are now at the point at which you become eligible to make a choice to live off campus for the 2011-12 Academic Year and won’t be guaranteed on campus housing for the next academic year. However, we would welcome your application to live on campus next year and there will be some great places on campus available. In January you will receive much more information about the application and sign-up process for apartments such as Kennedy, Corkery, and Burch.
Something we do feel a need to let you know at this time, however, is that traditionally we have had more "upper class" students interested in staying in on-campus residences than we have had space to accommodate. For example, last year we had approximately 900 applications by "upper class" students to live on campus, but only 650 spaces available for those students. Also, this year, you should know your class is our largest sophomore class in Gonzaga history and is scheduled to thus be our largest junior class. That may compound last year’s experience.
In anticipation of more students wanting to remain on campus, we are taking a few steps:
1. We will be moving two of our off-campus apartment complexes to the designation of “on campus.” These apartments will be fully furnished and all utilities paid just as you would expect in Corkery or Kennedy or Burch apartments. We will provide typical on campus style staffing and free laundry. These two properties are: 814 E Sharp and the three buildings on the 200 E Block of Sinto, north side of street. They will be offered during the returning resident sign up processes. And as with the other "upper class" space, we will offer these with single occupancy bedrooms and charge by the bedrooms rather than by the apartment.
2. Immediately following the sign-up night for our "upper-class" students, we will be hosting a late evening “lounge” for students who did not get a spot during the process. This will be a place to go right after the sign up process if you are stressed about not securing a space. Officials from the Housing Office will be there to help you and connect you with resources assist in your transition to off campus. We hope to accomplish a few things new this year by adding this “in person” option at the end of the process:
a. We will use this event to populate a wait list for those serious enough about still living on campus to wait a while for a vacancy to come. You will NOT automatically be placed on a wait list. You must request this in person either at this evening lounge, or in days following in the housing office. We are sure that this will speed up our possessing of vacancies and awarding of them to wait listed folks.
b. Display and hand out information that will assist you in your own off campus search, provide advice on your search, and be ready to answer questions and address concerns as you plan your transition to off-campus living.
c. We will invite local neighborhood landlords still with vacancies to be present to talk about their properties with you that evening.
Staff from your housing office are members of the Logan Neighborhood Association, the Hamilton Corridor Business Group and a Campus Coalition and we will use these connections with landlords and owners in the neighborhood to assist students as they move off campus. We have already begun work this fall to partner with these folks to assist you this spring – before and after the housing sign up process.
This summary, if you want to reside on-campus next year, please wait a while to find off campus housing. If you can't secure a space on campus, assistance will be available immediately to personally encourage you and help you devise “Plan B” if needed.
If you have any questions regarding this email or the "upper-class" housing process, please do not hesitate to contact the Housing Office, or speak with your Residence Director. We are here to help.
Sincerely,
Dennis Colestock, Ed. M.
Director, Housing and Residence Life
