New housing policies used to entice upperclassmen

For upperclassmen, it can be a real hassle trying to find a residence near campus; especially with new zoning laws passed and school policy that has traditionally prioritized the needs of incoming freshmen.
Beginning next semester, GCSU will introduce drastic changes to old policy in order to accommodate the eating and sleeping demands of sophomores and upperclassmen alike.
“We really value the on-campus experience here at GCSU,” said Bill Frowine, associate director of Operations at University Housing. “Our upperclassmen have different needs than our freshmen and we’ve developed a different model in order to serve those needs.”
Next semester, incoming freshman will be housed exclusively in Parkhurst, Foundation, and Wells Halls. The remaining freshmen will stay in buildings 500 and 600 in Bobcat Village. Bell Hall will be a mix of upperclassmen and freshmen in the honors program. Adams and Napier will be used for sophomores and upperclassmen, as will buildings 100, 200, 300 and 400 in Bobcat.
One of the main gripes among parents and students in the past has been the school’s mandatory meal plan policy for students residing in the residence halls, an expense that generally costs between $1,200 and $1,700 per year, (or $120-$170 per month if you figure in a 10 month school year.) This has driven many older students off campus to complexes such as College Station and The Grove, which range in price from $415 per month for a two bedroom in Phase 1 of College Station to $515 per month for a two bedroom in The Grove. While cable and Internet are included, students receive a $10 monthly “allowance” for water and a $30 “allowance” towards power, which amounts to what most people would call a “discount.”
After utilities, off-campus residents can expect to pay between $500 and $600 a month per person, assuming they don’t have anything to eat. Students who live on campus will pay around $450 per month with all utilities included, plus the meal plan option of their choice.
“There’s been a huge push by housing to keep upperclassmen on campus,” said Mike Haun, marketing manager of Auxiliary Services. “We’ve amended our contract with Sodexho Dining Services to make the meal plans optional, and we’re always looking for ways to make things better for students.”
While freshman on central campus will still be subjected to an unlimited plan for $1,695 or a 14 meal per week plan of $1,600, Bobcat Village freshman will have the 150-block plan option for $1,260. All non-freshman will now have a totally optional meal plan policy with any of the above options plus a 100-block meal plan option for $680 and a 25-block option for $170.
There is also a new dining hall facility in the works for West Campus next year.
“We’re not sure exactly what it’s going to be yet, but we’re thinking somewhere along the lines of a Panera Bread-type place,” said Kyle Cullars, executive director of Auxiliary Services. “What we do know is that it’s going to be very nice, and in some way it will be tied into the meal plan.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 2 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