Residence Life distributed letters to rising juniors and seniors with revised information concerning housing selection for the 2012-2013 academic year. Based on student feedback, rising juniors and seniors can return to their same residence hall space during phase one of the housing process, said Niki Turley, assistant dean of students.

Residence halls do not refer to university-owned apartments.

Rising juniors and seniors can apply for housing at The Station at Mill Point, the Oaks, Danieley O and P and the Crest during phase two Feb. 23, provided that the number of students applying to live in these residence areas does not exceed the number of spaces designated for juniors and seniors.

“We’ve always had a cap,” Turley said. “We’ve had to. We would love to say, ‘here’s housing, come on,’ which is why we are building.”

Nevertheless, the number of juniors and seniors that will live on campus during the 2012-2013 academic year will match the number of juniors and seniors currently living on campus this year, according to Turley. Those living at The Station at Mill Point are considered on-campus residents, in turn reducing the number of spaces available in other on-campus apartments.

[quote]“We’ve always had a cap. We’ve had to. We would love to say, ‘here’s housing, come on,’ which is why we are building.” -Niki Turley, assistant dean of students [/quote]

“We know our beds will be full,” she said. “We have the demand. We have amazing housing, but we want to have the right housing based on students developmental needs and class year.”

Changes in the housing selection process reflect students’ demands, according to Turley.

The Board of Trustees approved The Station at Mill Point to offer co-ed apartments.

“It reflects students’ friend groups and that all your friends are not single gender,” Turley said.

Feedback shows students are excited about the new housing, according to Turley, but are still waiting for the exact price to be revealed after it is determined by this year's budget.

A four-person apartment in The Station at Mill Point will cost the same as a four-person apartment in the Oaks, Turley said. Currently, a four-person Oaks apartment costs $610 per month, but Turley predicts a 4 percent increase, which is standard for all university housing, she said.

The Board of Trustees will determine the price Feb. 14, before housing selection begins.

This year’s housing process begins earlier than in the past. Housing selection will finish at the beginning of March, as opposed to the end of March, as in past years. The new timeline for housing selection mirrors that of the apartment complexes, said Elaine Turner, director of Residence Life, in a previous interview with The Pendulum,

“I know that sometimes the off-campus apartment complexes can push up their dates, so as to ensure their full occupancy,” Turley said. “But I would tell students that they should go through our process, if that is ultimately what they want, see if they get what they want, and if not, it’s still early March, then look to off campus.”

Turley said she expects construction to be completed by the end of the summer. Students that elect to live at The Station at Mill Point will enter a nine-month lease beginning in August.

For more information or specific questions, contact Residence Life at 336-278-7300 or attend an information session.