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Fall 2008 Room Selections Info
Provided by Dean of Students
(Continued from UNH Today home page.)

Dear Faculty and Staff:

As many of you know, we are in the midst of the on-campus room selection process for fall. This is a stressful time for students as they prepare for where and with whom they will live next year and also focus on completion of this semester. I am writing to provide you with the background on this year’s room selection process so that you have a clear understanding of the efforts made by the University and the challenges we currently face.

The University has experienced a significant increase in our on campus population over the past few years and expects a large incoming class for this fall. In response to this positive growth, we investigated a number of options to try to accommodate all UNH students who wish to reside on campus next year. We believed that we had found a solution to the problem through negotiations with the Wintergreen Apartments in the Westville section of New Haven and planned to manage and occupy one of their apartment buildings which would have provided 200 beds. Due to neighborhood concerns and zoning issues, we were subsequently unable to offer UNH managed housing at the Wintergreen.

We then looked at opportunities to expand our current facilities so that more students could live with their friends on campus. Despite adding capacity to our current two bedroom apartments, and obtaining more units at the Regency Apartments, we are still unable to accommodate approximately 100 students who wish to live on campus next year.

A number of solutions on how to address this 100 bed shortfall were discussed as we wanted to find the fairest means of identifying students who would not be eligible for on campus housing next fall. As a result, students who will enter their fifth year during the 2008-09 academic year, commuter students who wish to reside on campus and students who paid their room selection deposits after the March 10th deadline are currently not eligible for the room selection process. Students in these categories who have paid their housing deposit can request to have it refunded or can have their names added to a waiting list in the Office of Residential Life. If openings do occur over the summer, those on the waiting list will be contacted by the Office of Residential Life as space becomes available.

Students have expressed concerns about the impact of this decision on their financial aid for fall. Please be assured that the Financial Aid Office will work individually with each affected student to provide the best possible financial aid award for the 2008-09 academic year.

Although the University is unable to lease apartments directly at the Wintergreen Apartments, we are working with the management to secure a UNH student rate for students who are interested in the Wintergreen as an off-campus housing option. As soon as we have a final agreement with the Wintergreen management, information will be provided to students about this option. The Wintergreen website is www.wintergreenofwestville.com. Additional off-campus options can be found at the University’s off-campus housing website: http://www.newhaven.edu/universitycollege/16843/. Students are encouraged to check this site frequently as new listings are added on a regular basis. In addition, we will develop and offer information for students on how to lease an apartment and provide a means for students to find others looking for roommates.

Every effort was made to avoid having to eliminate students from the room selection process which is why room selection information and final dates were just recently communicated to students. We acknowledge that the loss of on campus housing for a number of our students will cause disappointment and want to assure you that we will do our very best to assist students in any way possible.

I want to thank the staff of the Office of Residential Life for their efforts to assist students with their housing questions and concerns during this difficult time. Please refer students to the Office of Residential Life to discuss their specific situation.

Should you have additional questions or concerns regarding student housing for fall 2008, please feel free to contact me.

Rebecca Johnson
Associate Provost for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students

Dear Students:

I am aware that there is currently a great deal of concern and discussion on campus regarding the room selection process for fall 2008. I am writing to provide you with the background on this year’s room selection process so that you have a clear understanding of the efforts made by the University and the challenges we currently face.

The University has experienced a significant increase in our on campus population over the past few years and expects a large incoming class for this fall. In response to this positive growth, we investigated a number of options to try to accommodate all UNH students who wish to reside on campus next year. We believed that we had found a solution to the problem through negotiations with the Wintergreen Apartments in the Westville section of New Haven and planned to manage and occupy one of their apartment buildings which would have provided 200 beds. Due to neighborhood concerns and zoning issues, we were subsequently unable to offer UNH managed housing at the Wintergreen.

We then looked at opportunities to expand our current facilities so that more students could live with their friends on campus. Despite adding capacity to our current two bedroom apartments, and obtaining more units at the Regency Apartments, we are still unable to accommodate approximately 100 students who wish to live on campus next year.

A number of solutions on how to address this 100 bed shortfall were discussed as we wanted to find the fairest means of identifying students who would not be eligible for on campus housing next fall. As a result, students who will enter their fifth year during the 2008-09 academic year, commuter students who wish to reside on campus and students who paid their room selection deposits after the March 10th deadline are currently not eligible for the room selection process. Students in these categories who have paid their housing deposit can request to have it refunded or can have their names added to a waiting list in the Office of Residential Life. If openings do occur over the summer, those on the waiting list will be contacted by the Office of Residential Life as space becomes available.

Students have expressed concerns about the impact of this decision on their financial aid for fall. Please be assured that the Financial Aid Office will work individually with each affected student to provide the best possible financial aid award for the 2008-09 academic year.

Although the University is unable to lease apartments directly at the Wintergreen Apartments, we are working with the management to secure a UNH student rate for students who are interested in the Wintergreen as an off-campus housing option. As soon as we have a final agreement with the Wintergreen management, information will be provided to students about this option. The Wintergreen website is www.wintergreenofwestville.com. Additional off-campus options can be found at the University’s off-campus housing website: http://www.newhaven.edu/universitycollege/16843/. Students are encouraged to check this site frequently as new listings are added on a regular basis. In addition, we will develop and offer information for students on how to lease an apartment and provide a means for students to find others looking for roommates.

Every effort was made to avoid having to eliminate students from the room selection process which is why room selection information and final dates were just recently communicated to students. We acknowledge that the loss of on campus housing for a number of our students will cause disappointment and want to assure you that we will do our very best to assist students in any way possible.

Finally, it is my understanding that the Office of Residential Life has received the brunt of student frustration over the decision not to offer housing to fifth year students, commuters and students on the late list. Please understand that this was a University decision which the Office of Residential Life has been asked to implement. The Office of Residential Life staff has been working very hard to answer student questions and provide the best service possible during this stressful time for students. Should you have questions about room selection, please direct them to the Office of Residential Life and they will assist you.

Rebecca Johnson
Associate Provost for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students

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