Spring 2007 Newsletter · Issue 29
Residential Life Updates
By Fran Koerting, Director of Rresidential Life
The Office of Residential Life has been working closely with the Wesleyan Student Assembly to implement changes that should relieve some of the tensions associated with selecting rooms for the next year. As recently as last spring, all eligible students were allowed to form housing groups of up to six people. However, housing is not available in all configurations for all classes. Fauver apartments and wood-frame houses, which can accommodate groups larger than four, are typically selected by the rising seniors. The largest size units available for rising juniors are the Low Rise apartments, which hold four. Sophomore-appropriate housing units hold no more than two. When the group’s size is larger than the capacity of available units, the group is forced to split, which can put a strain on relationships. Beginning this year, group size will be limited to the maximum housing capacity for class appropriate housing:
- two for rising sophomores;
- four for rising juniors, and
- six for rising seniors.
The General Room Selection process was described in detail in a ParentLine article in the spring of 2006. The article explained that each spring there are a number of rising sophomores who do not receive a housing assignment until the summer after space is freed up through attrition among continuing students. Starting this year, these students will be guaranteed that they will be in the top 25 percent of their class for room selection the next year. Adjustments will also be made for rising juniors who were not able to select class appropriate housing and for first-year students who lived in temporary triples.
The Office of Residential Life will continue to explore new ways to make the selection process smoother for students. The office will continue to provide students with updates specific to their class year so that they have clear expectations and are well-prepared for the process. If your student has questions or concerns about the process, please encourage him or her to attend an informational session or to stop by the Office of Residential Life in North College. Feedback from students regarding the room selection process and suggestions on how to improve it is welcomed.