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University Houj 1986-87 Ro To Be&in ^ Sign-up is almost here, which brings mixed reactions from different people. Some don't mind it... some will tell you flat out they just don't like it... and some don't know what the heck sign-up is! Depending upon your point of view it can be described as a well organized and efficient operation... a mad house... or a "typical" University operation. From the standpoint of University Housing Services, sign-up is an effective way to process over 4500 applications from continuing residents in a relatively short period of time. The present system has evolved over a long period and has been modified each year to take into account the changes which occur within facilities and to streamline the entire operation. Over the last two years when an evaluation was done at sign-up about the process, less than 1% of HOUSING SIGH You can only sign up for a room once, so m following schedule closely nd make your reserva PHASE I: Apartment Sign up. Sign up for all spaces in cai Location: Towers Loungo 8:30 AM to 4:00 PI Wednatday, March 18 ? Same Room Thursday, March 19 ? Same Building, sidered one building Friday, March 20 ? Moves Between Apa PHASE II: Same Room. Sign up for the same room. Location: Towers Lounge 8:30 AM to 4:00 Pi Tuesday, March 24 - All Men's Rasic Thursday, March 26 ? All Women's F PHASE III: Same Hall. Sign up for sar Location: Towers Lounge 8:30 AM to 4:00 PK Tuesday, March 31 ? Men who wish t Thursday, April 2 ? Women who wisI DISPLACED STUDENT SiGN UP Location: Towers Lounge 8:30 AM to 4:00 Pi | Thursday, March 19 (2:30 PM to 4:00 nwinnmnntc nnrl u/ith trt mnua In n rat Wednesday, April 8 ? All students wh to move to another residence hall. PHASE IV: Different Hall. Sign up for any available space i "numbers instructions) j Location: Towers Lounge 0:30 AM to 4:00 PS Tuesday, April 14 ? Men may reserve Thursday, April 6 ? Women may rese MOTE: HOUSING APPLICATIONS WILL BE DELIVERED TO Tl SPRING BREAK. Two Semester Contraci Residents often question the policy of committing themselves to a two semester contract. "The reason for this," according to Jim Smart, director of administration, "is that it results in the lowest possible cost for the majority of residents." "By utilizing a two semester contract, we are able to guarantee a high percentage of occupancy. Consequently, once costs are projected for any given year, we can spread the anticipated expenditures over the greatest number of residents, thereby assuring each of them the lowest possible rates." "We could operate with a semester contract, but Greek Si&n-Up This year All Greek organizations on campus will be going to single student contracts. This means that anyone wanting to live on a sorority or fraternity floor needs to go through University Housing Signup just like anyone else who intends to remain on campus. Going to single contracts will give Greeks more flexibility in moving their members between University Housing and Greek sections. Additionally, the financial responsibility will move from the fraternity/sorority to its individual members. Greeks who durrently live off campus and plan to move to their sorority or fraternity floor may do so on April 22. Start Thinking About Your Advance Room Fee! In response to feedback received over the years, University Housing Services moved sign-up to late spring in 1985. This allows students more time to make housing decisions and to raise the required $100 advance room fee. Since there is no time lapse between the end of continuing student sign-up and the beginning of assignment of new students, we cannot offer any deferments of the advance room fees. We must give first priority to students who can demonstrate the ability to pay their room costs. Students experiencing financial hardship who want to continue in University housing should contact Housing Services PRIOR to sign-up to find out what alternatives are available. sin& Announces om Si&n-up darch 25th the students responding had anything negative to say. It appears from this information that most residents were satisfied with the housing arrangements they were able to make. Housing sign-up is soon to begin again. For those experiencing it for the first time and for the old timers, the articles in this publication provide information which should make the process easier. Policies are explained and helpful hints provided. After reading all the articles, you should have a better understanding of the entire procedure. An evaluation form will be available again this year at sign up for comments. Please let us know how you feel about our services. All of us in University Housing hope to make your living experience at Carolina a pleasant one. I UP SCHEDULE ake your room selection carefully. Please read the tion accordingly: vpus apts. W Signup Different Bedroom/Apartment Sign up (Horseshoe/Woodrow con >rtment Buildings and from Other Buildings (NUMBERS REQUIRED) M lenca Halls Residence Halls no building. 1 0 reserve other room spaces in their present halls. 1 to resrve other spaces in their present halls. M PM) ? All students who have been displaced from their present | npus apartment. I 0 have been displaced from their present assignments and wish n any hall for which current residents are eligible (See attached f 1 available space in any hall for which they are eligible, rve available space in any hall for which they are eligible. IE ROOMS OF ON CAMPUS STUDENTS THE WEEK PRIOR TO ! l ij^i ir r? -x- r\ L JV?ep \jUSIS L/own this would lead to a significant number of vacancies during the spring. Since operating expenses, even with less people living on campus, would remain relatively constant, the price for all rooms would have to be increaed in order to cover costs." "Given the choice," Smart said, "we feel most residents and their parents would prefer the two semester contract over a single semester contract with additional increae in rent. As long as this is the case we plan on retaining the two semester contract." Displaced Columbia Hall Students Columbia Hal Students who currently reside on floors 2 through 6 may sign up for their same rooms during Same Room Sign-up (Phase II). Those residents who lived on 7 through 11 and want to return to their old rooms may also do so Hnrinc Samf> Rnnm Sipn-un fPhn<;p IH rppArdlp<;<; of where they presently live. Fal 1986 Columbia Hall residents who lived on floors 2 through 6 an chose to move to another facility or who moved off campus and who are interested in returning to their old room may do so (if it has not been taken by its current residents) by coming to University Housing on Monday, March 30th and checking to see if the room is available. If it is available it will be reserved for them to sign up for on March 31st (Men) and April 2nd (Women). Students will not be able to sign up the day they reserve the space because staff will still be processing same room assignments. Present residents of Columbia Hall may sign up for other spaces in the building (except those reserved for returning Fall '86 tenants) during r n ! J- r /ni iitv a ii .i Dame ouwaing Dign-up u nase in;. /\n otner students returning to Columbia Hall may do so at Displaced Student Sign-up on April 8. NOTE: Students who moved off campus are eligible to move back into Columbia Hall only. Housing application/contracts are available for offcampus Columbia Hall students at the University Housing Services on Blossom Street. STCES H Only Continuing Residents Are Eligible to Participate in Sign-Up Sign-up is for continuing campus residents who have a current contract on file in the UHS office. Consequently, students who live off campus are not eligible to participate in this process. University Housing must be able to accommodate new students in the fall. If off-campus students were given the opportunity to move on prior to new student assignments, we could not insure housing to students coming to the University for the first time. (Students in Contract housing, e.g. the Roost, may move into University Housing during a specially designated sign-up. Call the Housing Office for details.) Students who are living off campus should submit applications at our office, not at sign-up. We encourage off-campus students to apply early, so that they have the best chance of receiving an assignment. They will be processed as soon as freshmen and transfers have been assigned. These students will probably not be notified of a housing assignment until sometime in mid to late summer. WIkmc Your lloir.in*] l)o!l(ii (?<><*:. Iri ""11 I MX Look Before You Leap Into I M^nv nf \/r\l l u/lir\ 1 i VP in I lni\;<ircifx; Mr\? icirto mot/ J j < ? v. ... w.M7 not be familiar with the off Campus Student Services Office. This office provides support programs designed to enhance the quality of life experienced by studetns who choose to live in non-university housing. Our most requested program is the off Campus Housing Assistance Service. We assist students in locating off campus housing and also provide individual housing counseling. If you're planning a move off campus, please ask for assistance in making your advance plans. It is easier to avoid problems that have to deal with them. The following information will be helpful to those of you considering a move off campus. 1. Housing is available in the greater Columbia Area. The average 1 bedroom apartment is currently $330 per month and the average 2 bedroom is $373 per month (unfurnished, does not include utilities). Housing close to campus (within a one-mile radius) may be available, however the cost will be much higher in the downtown area. The average price for a 1 bedroom in the downtown area is $409. For a 2 bedroom the average price is $498 (unfurnished, does not include utilities). Reasonably priced housing is very limited close to the campus. You will need to depend on lucky and "word of mouth" referrals, you may find that you often pay for location rather than quality. 2. Many leases will be for 12 months, however some landlords and major complexes now offer 6 or 9 month leases. Subletting may be possible but you must have the permission of the landlord. South Carolina recently passed legislation governing the landlord/tenant relationship. You should contact our office for the current information on this subject. 3. Advance reservations are sometimes possible with major complexes and housing areas currently under construction. The definition of advance reservation may vary from one housing management company to another and may not always mean that you are guaranteed a place. BE SURE that you know what will happen to you if your apartment Residents University Housing Any resident who currently owes money to University Housing will not be able to sign up for next year unless the debt it paid. Outstanding bills fall into two categories: maintenance charges and assessments for Health and Safety Check violations. The amounts owed are usualy small but will Uo niM n r r\ r\ rv\ /?ir? Uo ilUTV IV/ Il/V. puiv.1 l/WIVI V. C* I UUIII v. ? I I l/t ItOCI VCU, According to John Long, maintenance supervisor, "All maintenance chrges are for actual costs incurred while making repairs. We don't make any n "OTTT'Tj nlJNJQ, j OUSIN' Veteran Emp] arjit t 1 ips on Sign-up can be easy, nerve wracking, or some where in-between, depending upon where you want to live next year. In an effort to help ease you through this process, Ann Gilchrist, Betty Frye and Michelle Wright, three "veteran errmlovees" of the Housing Office, have prepared the following tips: 1. Before coming to sign-up you should make sure everything is in order. The application/contract should be completely filled out, the contract signed and dated, and you should be prepared to pay the $100 advance room fee (Remember you can use Visa or Mastercard). 2. If you are signing up for the same room (Phase I apts. or Phase II same residence hall) you will get it if you come on the appropriate day during the scheduled time period. Past experience has shown that if you come by 8:30am when we start signing up, your wait should be short. If you come after 2:00 or 2:30 you are liable to find a line, because that is when the greatest number of students seem to come. Usually, if you can arrange to come between 9:30 and 2:00, your delay should be minimal. 3. Those signing up for a different room in the same apartment bldg. or residence hall can usually come to sign up anytime after 11:30 am and find iinnr i ip until then however, students will prolousing In The Real World is not available for occupancy when you expect it. The majority of independent landlords will not hold apartments for you. You should plan to conduct your housing search 30 to 45 days before you want to begin paying rent. 4. We're often asked for estimates of how much it costs to live off campus. That figure will vary greatly depending on individual circumstances. The following figures are based on information given to the Off Campus Office by the utilities and services involved and on research that is conducted by the Central Midlands Regional Planning Council. INITIAL EXPENSES $150 Average Deposit on Apartment 100 Electric & Gas Deposit 105 Phone Deposit 44 Phone Installation (minimum ? higher is addi$394 tional labor and materials arc required) (phone and Electric & Gas deposits may be avoid cd, depending on your credit rating) BASIC MONTHLY COSTS $373 Average 2 Bedroom apartment 18 Basic Phone Service 80 Electricity (Estimated based on 2 people in a 2 bedroom apartment. Central heat and air). 60 Furniture rental for a 2 bedroom apartment $531 These costs vary greatly depending on the number of students sharing an apartment. Estimates are current (September, 1986) and are likely to change by Fall 1987. 5. Off campus alternatives range in price and quality. If you would like additional information or assistance in planning an off campus move, please call for an appointment to talk with Rosemary Broadway, coordinator of Off Campus Student Services, 777-4174. 6. Housing Affair. The off Campus Student Service office is sponsoring a Housing Affair on March 3, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Representatives from various housing areas in Columbia will be available in the Russell House Ball Room for you to talk with. Come by for additional information! in debt to g cannot si&n up. money on uautdge charges as we only bill the amount it cost us ? whethr the job is done by housing mainenance or Health & Safety Check assessments should be brought to he attention of the Area Manager." Outstanding bills can be paid at University Housing Services between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, any day prior to sign-up. Bills can also be paid at sign-up, but on particularly busy days this might cause delays and inconvenience. If possible, students should try to settle up ahead of time.