New housing plans hope to draw return residents

     GCSU is presently undergoing the process of executing a new housing plan to expand the choices of campus housing. This new direction includes Central Campus and West Campus and will save money and increase the quality of living for all students.
     Within the Central Campus, Napier and Adams Halls will be designated as “Upperclassmen Halls” which exclude freshman. For these residents, no meal plan is required, and a variety of discounted meal plans will be available. There will be 500 spaces allotted for the returning students of Central Campus.
     However, the future of Sanford Hall will be determined by the need of freshman housing or upperclassman housing.
     Joye Server, a freshman early childhood education major is considering her housing options.
     “I would [consider living in University Housing]. I think they are doing a good job to make it more appealing by making it more student-friendly,” Server said.
     The positive attributes of Central Campus continue to be engaging for various reasons.
     “[Central Campus] is campus affiliated, creates more time for other activities, since you are not cooking, and is closer to main campus classes,” Server said.
     Several changes are similarly being made to Bobcat Village.
     “The Resident Halls are nice,” said Server, “But I’m looking forward [to apartment-style housing] and cooking for myself.”
Some freshman will have the option to live on West Campus. The Bobcat Village 500 and 600 buildings will be housing 300 freshmen next semester.
     However, not everyone is thrilled with the arriving freshman in Bobcat Village. Sophomore Psychology major, Dustin Binns, was not pleased.
     “[The newer buildings in] Bobcat Village should be opted for the upperclassmen and the freshman should get the older rooms,” Binns said.
     The rent in West Campus will still included the utilities rather than capping them off as other complexes commonly do. Another bonus is the rent for the first month is free for the first 500 students who sign contracts in Bobcat Village.
     “It is a good way to attract people to living off [Central] Campus,” Binns said.
     Perhaps the biggest change to Bobcat Village is the new 10,000-square foot building that will serve as a community center and essential piece to enhancing West Campus life.       New dining services, lounge and program space, and classroom facilities will supplement the link to campus life for all students.
     The overall appearance of Bobcat Village will also recieve improvements. Better lighting, outdoor furnishings, signage, banners, and flags will all “be designated to better incorporate the Georgia College ‘look and feel’,” saidDr. Bruce Harshbarger, the vice president and dean of students in a statement
     Binns points out Bobcat Village has its advantages, but thinks there are still areas that could use improvement.
“I like Bobcat Village; there is a shuttle every 15 minutes and I have my own room. So as long as you get a good apartment, it’s all good,” said Binns. “However, I would really like speedier work orders to create a better living environment.”
     The new housing plan will cater more to upperclassmen, enabling them to revise the policies and practices to their individual preferences. Also, special transfer and graduate students will have housing specified in Bobcat Village.
     The new direction of housing all over campus will significantly enhance the university housing experience for all students, new or old, next Fall.  

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 26 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry