During the September 20 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA), Resident and Commuter Life (RCL) Executive Director Larry Robertson came to speak to the Senate about some upcoming changes for RCL.
He explained that RCL anticipated that some changes would have to be put into place as the university continues to grow. The school started experiencing an increase in students wanting to stay in Longwood housing as well as an increase in student retention rate. Longwood also experienced its largest incoming freshmen class this year.
In addition to an increase in students, the state also gave Longwood money to renovate French Hall. The French renovation will take away an additional 60-100 beds. All of the factors add up to an indication that RCL might not be able to guarantee housing to all students as they have in the past. Robertson, as well as a number of other individuals, came together in a committee to create a plan to deal with the changes.
A new residential spot at Lancer Park will open up in Fall 2013 and house an additional 450 students. RCL needed to create a short term plan to handle housing issues until the new complex is opened. For the 2011-2012 academic year, sophomores will not be allowed to move into apartments. RCL will also not be able to guarantee juniors and seniors housing. Another change that comes is any student with 48 credit hours will be eligible to apply to be released off-campus. This is a change from the current 56 credit hour minimum to be offered off-campus residency.
After the release period, housing will progress in the same order: Two -bedroom apartments and studio squats will occur first, followed by two-bedroom apartments and studio lottery. Apartment squats followed by apartment signups comes next, and then specialty housing (such as sorority floors and honors floors) and disability housing will sign up.
When main campus housing opens up to the general student body (on campus dormitories) all students with less than 56 credit hours will be allowed to sign up BEFORE those with 56 credit hours or more. This is because freshman and sophomores have to be guaranteed housing, so they need to have the chance to sign up for dorms before upperclassman are eligible.
Each step will have a waiting list, and any student who was not released off-campus and did not get Longwood housing will automatically be released off-campus. RCL also offers an orientation to help students figure out how to find off-campus housing.
One senator asked if anyone looked at fifth, sixth and seventh-year seniors in regard to whether they were still allowed to live in Longwood housing. Robertson stated that they had not looked into that factor, and he plans to take it back to the committee.
Each student will receive a letter with their credit hours and information pertinent to their specific sign up regulations. Freshmen and sophomores will also have a letter sent home so parents and guardians can be informed of the process as well.
Five new senators joined the Senate during the meeting. Shawn Gaines, Bobby Smith, Brandon Readus, Heather Krukowski, and Abby Pendleton were sworn in as senators.
During the open forum section, one senator expressed concerns that there has been an increase in cigarette butts due to do mostly staff members smoking in undesignated areas. There have been some complaints regarding the Farmville Area Bus failing to drop students off at the Longwood Golf Course as well.
Senators expressed concerns about parking on campus in general and specifically during President Finnegan's inauguration in October. The Senate hopes to bring Parking Director Laura Rice to the Senate meeting next week to discuss concerns. The sustainability committee will also be looking at the fact that lights are left on in buildings during the night, which some senators feel is a waste of electricity.
During his Executive Report, SGA President Brandon Fry asked all senators to help remind clubs and organizations that they need to sign up their organization on CollegiateLink through the Student Union Website.
Greenwood Library is interested in hosting an open forum to discuss issues and concerns, and they are also looking into the possibility of having the library open in the evening hours of holidays that are followed by a school day (such as Labor Day).
The Student Finance Committee allocated $630.88 to the Association of Computer Machinery for a competition at Radford University. Sigma Kappa requested $1,220 for a picnic that will follow their walk to end Alzheimer's next Thursday. That number was cut in half due to concerns about not enough students participating in the picnic and having non-Longwood students receiving student money for their meal. Sigma Kappa was allocated $610 for that event.
The next SGA meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in the BC room of the Lankford Student Union. Senior Sarah Adams will be coming to present the idea of installing a free speech wall on campus. Anyone interested in weighing in on the conversation is encouraged to join the meeting.
