Hundreds of sophomores won't get housing
Emily Groves
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: News
At least 386 randomly selected sophomores will be denied on-campus housing next year, Resident Life officials said.
Following a last-minute housing crisis that left 639 juniors and seniors out of dorms 45 days before exams last year and the emergence of the longest wait-list since 1980 this fall, Director of Resident Life Deb Grandner said she planned to notify students in an e-mail sent today to those living on the campus that many would join the cast-off ranks.
If trends continue to follow the department's predictions, Grandner said 556 sophomores would most likely be denied from dorm housing next year. In the worst-case scenario 1,003 sophomores would not receive on-campus housing, she said.
Resident Life will most likely turn to lottery system to determine which students will receive spots in dorms. The system would assign students random priority numbers, Grandner said, stressing the idea is still only a possibility, but "the only one we have on the table."
Sophomores and juniors will not be the only students affected by the crunch, however. Resident Life leaders are considering three options for alleviating the demand, some of which have drastic repercussions for older students.
The first would convert vacant, "two-bedroom, two-bathroom deluxe" apartments in University Courtyards into double rooms for reduced rates, creating housing for 70 more students.
The second option would ban fifth-year students and above from renewing their leases in University Courtyards and South Campus Commons.
The third option would limit all new leasing at Commons and Courtyards to current sophomores and allow current freshmen to fill any remaining spaces. Under this option, juniors, already ineligible for on-campus housing, would also be shut out of the university's public-private partnership apartments.
Grandner acknowledged that the third option "would be difficult for [juniors]," but lamented that "decisions to help one group will affect another."
Following a last-minute housing crisis that left 639 juniors and seniors out of dorms 45 days before exams last year and the emergence of the longest wait-list since 1980 this fall, Director of Resident Life Deb Grandner said she planned to notify students in an e-mail sent today to those living on the campus that many would join the cast-off ranks.
If trends continue to follow the department's predictions, Grandner said 556 sophomores would most likely be denied from dorm housing next year. In the worst-case scenario 1,003 sophomores would not receive on-campus housing, she said.
Resident Life will most likely turn to lottery system to determine which students will receive spots in dorms. The system would assign students random priority numbers, Grandner said, stressing the idea is still only a possibility, but "the only one we have on the table."
Sophomores and juniors will not be the only students affected by the crunch, however. Resident Life leaders are considering three options for alleviating the demand, some of which have drastic repercussions for older students.
The first would convert vacant, "two-bedroom, two-bathroom deluxe" apartments in University Courtyards into double rooms for reduced rates, creating housing for 70 more students.
The second option would ban fifth-year students and above from renewing their leases in University Courtyards and South Campus Commons.
The third option would limit all new leasing at Commons and Courtyards to current sophomores and allow current freshmen to fill any remaining spaces. Under this option, juniors, already ineligible for on-campus housing, would also be shut out of the university's public-private partnership apartments.
Grandner acknowledged that the third option "would be difficult for [juniors]," but lamented that "decisions to help one group will affect another."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 19
2006 graduate
posted 10/16/07 @ 2:08 AM EST
This is ridiculous. This housing crunch has been happening, and worsening, for years, and yet the administration just keeps turning a blind eye. They say it's not their problem, that Courtyards and Commons will pick up the slack. (Continued…)
Blame it on the Returning
posted 10/16/07 @ 2:14 AM EST
The problem with blaming the issue on the number of returning students is that statistic is also a result of the housing issues. As it becomes increasingly hard to find affordable, safe, nearby and well maintained housing, the dorms start to look like a better option. (Continued…)
Jerry
posted 10/16/07 @ 7:33 AM EST
The sad thing is that there really ISN'T any safe, affordable, nearby housing available for students who are being simply cast aside by UM. Has any UM administrator checked out the rent at the View? Come on! Funny how some universities like Penn State have plenty of on-campus and decent off-campus housing available for students. (Continued…)
CJ
posted 10/16/07 @ 8:20 AM EST
While some of the housing problems are the fault of the University, a lot of the issues that everyone is complaining about are part of the problems that come with going to school near a big city. (Continued…)
Eric
posted 10/16/07 @ 10:46 AM EST
UMCP does not promise housing beyond Freshman year, so STOP COMPLAINING
Schquita
posted 10/16/07 @ 12:57 PM EST
What the hell kinda bullsh** is this!! I finally moved out of hell-on-earth aka Easton and moved into the courtyards as a sophmore. And when I finally get peace, relaxation, and an increase in my GPA, the university pulls some crap like this. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 10/16/07 @ 1:19 PM EST
No new houseing built on campus, but UM found space to build new parking garages. I guess they do not want anyone to live on campus. Better to drive in long trafic jams buring gas. (Continued…)
Student
posted 10/16/07 @ 1:25 PM EST
This situation will become increasingly common at UMCP over the next few years and students are likely to become increasingly exasperated. I'm glad that I never lived on-campus here in the first place. (Continued…)
Kelly
posted 10/16/07 @ 2:15 PM EST
Perhaps the University should revert to an old policy and deny housing to anyone who lives less than 15 miles (or so) from campus. That was a policy back in the day. (Continued…)
UMD Senior2
posted 10/16/07 @ 7:57 PM EST
Such ridiculous stuff from ResLife. They failed to get a public-private partnership going when the Board of Regents told them explicitly this was a viable option. (Continued…)
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