The first phase of the new housing lottery at Winston-Salem State began April 14 and has caused some students to explore living off campus or transferring.
The Enrollment Management Committee instituted the housing lottery effective fall 2009. In the past, housing assignments were determined by a student’s classification or grade point average.
The University now has 2,377 beds and more than 6,400 full and part-time students enrolled.
New freshmen will be assigned to the 1,100 slots; SGA members, band members, scholars and athletes will be given 527 slots. The remaining 750 slots are reserved for the other continuing students.
According to the Committee, a housing lottery is a fair way to assign student housing, but some students say they do not like the process.
ReDonah Anderson, a sophomore mass communications major from Washington, D.C., said the lottery is forcing her to transfer to Howard University next fall.
Anderson said that she is leaving WSSU because she will not be able to afford to live off campus and purchase a car so that she can commute.
“I came here because I liked what the University had to offer in my major and the WSSU family atmosphere,” Anderson said.
“I really wanted to graduate and obtain my degree from here as I always planned since I was in high school,” she said.
She said she has had to come to the realization that her dream of becoming a WSSU graduate will not come true.
The housing lottery has changed her projected graduation date because Howard will not accept all of her credits.
“At the most, I am losing six to nine credit hours,” Anderson said.
“I am originally supposed to graduate in May of 2011, but because of this adjustment, my graduation date may be December 2011 or even May 2012,” she said.
Anderson said she will tell other out-of state students not to consider WSSU so they can avoid the issues she is experiencing right now.
“I would not suggest WSSU to other out-of-state students. Out-of-state students should be chosen first for housing assignment over the students that live closer to the school,” she said.
“It is a challenge and burden for an out-of-state student to come to an unfamiliar town and get an apartment. I wouldn’t want someone to go through that situation and work hard to perform good in school,” Anderson said.
Mary Smith, assistant director of assignments, said there is not a separate lottery for out-of state students. Smith said they must go through the same process as the other students.
“We encourage all students to apply for the new housing lottery,” she said.
“If the student does not receive housing, we are holding off-campus housing fairs to assist them in finding somewhere to stay,” Smith said.
Lanita Mercer, a junior exercise major from Elizabeth City, N.C. said she likes living on campus but is open to the possibility of having to move into an apartment.
“I like the convenience of living on campus,” Mercer said.
“It makes it easier for me to get to my classes. I will apply for the lottery, and if I do not get housing, I will get an apartment.”
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