As fall draws near, the Department of Housing and Residence Life-with help from the decision of several students to move off-campus-has managed to eliminate the waiting list of students who did not receive on-campus housing in the spring.
According to newly hired Director of Housing and Residence Life Alvin Sturdivant, the department has been able to secure additional space on campus.
“Everyone who was on the waiting list has been offered housing,” Sturdivant said.
On April 4, the waiting lis contained 219 students; on April 25, it later dwindled to 188 students.
“We have been working since the room sign up process began to get people off the list,” said Sturdivant. “We’ve found creative ways to free more space.”
One way Sturdivant accomplished his goal was to reorganize current housing arrangements. He said that Res Life is opening up two floors in Reinert Hall to accommodate 114 sophomores who will be living in triple rooms.
“We need to look at the more immediate factors [such as] processes and timelines to get a handle on sign up for returning students and first-year students. That will give us a better sense of capacity needs,” Sturdivant said.
While he doesn’t anticipate a waiting list ever disappearing completely, Sturdivant thinks things can improve.
“I’m working on hiring an assistant director. This person will be in charge of housing and facilities.”
Having more staff on hand to help plan will relieve the pressure of having too many students but not enough space, Sturdivant said.
Although focusing on shrinking future housing waiting lists is an immediate concern, Sturdivant also stressed the importance of strategic planning.
“What will happen 10 to 30 years from now? We need to engage in a strategic planning process, and [we need to] have a master plan,” Sturdivant said.
Sophomore Paige Pederson, who was on the waiting list, was offered housing but has decided to live off campus.
“I was placed into one of the Laclede houses, but I plan to move off campus,” Pederson said.
“I think it bothers me more personally because I was a transfer student, so I was already affected because I had no GPA or any semesters on campus,” said Sophomore Alyssa Fox. “It was frustrating.”
Fox was also added to the waiting list at the end of spring semester.
“I was told … I may even have to wait until the middle of summer for housing,” said Fox.
Fox believes there should be some consideration taken for transfer students who are new to the University to help them acclimate.
“Hopefully, next year’s housing will be better planned, so that not so many students are left out. For a lot of people I know, their parents were even unsure about sending them back to SLU without housing,” Fox said.
