New process guarantees campus housing

Unlike 2009, continuing Winston- Salem State students will not have to worry about having a place to stay when they return to campus.

For the 2010-2011 academic year, all students will be guaranteed housing. 

The online lottery process, introduced by the Enrollment Management Committee in spring 2009, will continue to be used.

That process determined which students were eligible to select rooms, roommates, and meal plans.  

However, not every continuing student was afforded those amenities in the fall semester.

Linda Inman, Housing and Residence Life director, said that WSSU cares about its students and wants everyone to have a place to stay.

"We want to do all we can to assist students to get housing," Inman said. 

"We are concerned about our students and our goal is to provide everyone [with] housing who applies." 

To participate in the housing lottery, continuing students must be registered for 12 hours, complete the housing application and pay a $135 non-refundable housing deposit during the week of Feb. 15-19.

Students who submit their completed application  by the deadline will be guaranteed a room on campus or alternative housing in a hotel. 

This year the housing process began earlier than in previous years.

"We decided to move the process up to cut down on students having anxiety about where they will stay next year," Inman said. 

"We are hoping that every student that applies for housing will know where they are staying in the [following] fall before they go home for summer break." 

In addition to guaranteed housing this year, Housing and Residence Life will reveal new  initiatives. 

One initiative involves expanding the existing quiet hours policy to 24 hours a day.  

Residents who choose this "quiet option" will be housed in Rams Commons with the honor students. This option will be available to only 55 students. 

This is in addition to the 69 slots  available to honor students.  

The quiet initiative is attractive to students who seek an environment conducive for sleep and study 24 hours a day.

The "student incentive" offers those with a 2.8 GPA or higher and a minimum of 45 credit hours the opportunity to live in Rams Commons.  There are 220 spaces reserved for this option. 

A third initiative involves reducing  spaces for organizations and groups including band members, ROTC and graduate students. 

This year, these student groups must also participate in the lottery to receive housing.

Housing and Residence Life enlisted the help of the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Cathy Hoots said she and Carl Perry have tried to create innovative ways to ensure all students and parents know what is going on with  the process. 

Hoots is the director of Recruitment and Enrollment Communications. Perry is the project manager for Recruitment and Enrollment Communications.

"We will have a video and PSA of Whitney McCoy, SGA president, discussing what has changed and been added to the lottery," Hoots said. 

In addition, parents of continuing students will be sent letters  detailing the revised  process. 

Information sessions will be scheduled in residence halls, the Hauser Building computer lab and SGA forums.

They begin later this month.