This year, students interested in on-Grounds housing will have to decide where to apply earlier than in years past, because of a change in the housing division's policy.
The deadline for upper-class students retaining the same room was advanced from Jan. 21 to Nov. 1; the deadline for upper-class students to turn in intent forms for other upper-class areas was moved from Jan. 23 to Nov.8. The date by which first years must turn in intent forms for upper-class housing was moved up from Feb. 6 to Jan. 17.
Students will receive notice of the new process this week.
Asst. Director of Accommodations D. Cole Spencer said parents and students were calling for earlier deadlines as a result of early lease-signing deadlines for off-Grounds housing.
"Parents wanted to hear where their children were going to live on Grounds sooner," Spencer said. "I wouldn't say that we're necessarily competing with off Grounds though."
Because Bice House, a popular upper-class living option housing about 300 students, is closing for renovations next year, there also will be less on-Grounds housing available for the 2003-2004 school year.
In addition, the Board of Visitors' enrollment projections state that next year's first-year class will increase by 55 students -- another possible strain on the housing system.
Spencer said that students will be able to find on-Grounds housing regardless of the increased demand.
"In Bice, some will be graduating, and some will choose to live off Grounds," he said. "But there's no way to predict how it's going to go this year."
He added that "Faulkner Apartments will probably continue to be the most popular request," followed by the Lambeth Field Apartments and Copeley III and IV, respectively.
Spencer specified that displaced Bice residents would be given living priority -- the intent form deadline for Bice is Nov. 6, and the deadline for all other upperclassmen changing rooms is Nov. 8.
If students don't want to live on Grounds, Spencer said, they should be assured that off Grounds always remains a possibility.
"It's a myth that they won't get good off-Grounds housing if they want it," he said. "Students can still get housing even in the spring."
Several local realtors are not so optimistic, however.
"The majority of our leases are signed in October," said Paige Shifflett, property manager for CBS Rentals. "We have some one-bedrooms that rent later, but for the most part, we sign in October."
Shifflett added that the reason for the October signups is student demand.
"It seems to start earlier and earlier every year," she said. "We have first-year parents coming in June or July wanting to secure housing for their kids' second year. It's frustrating for the students, I can sympathize with them."
It would be impossible eventually to postpone lease signings until later in the fall or at the beginning of next semester, Shifflet said.
"The market just won't allow it," she said. "We're just following the market. I just don't think we could [delay rentals], because the market and the students provoke our leasings. A later date wouldn't change parents and students calling here."
This past weekend marked the lease-signing kickoff. Management Services Corporation started leasing Oct. 11, Wade Apartments started Oct. 12 and CBS Rentals started Oct. 1.
Wade Apartments general manager Wade Tremblay said the housing process could rush students but that it was unfeasible to operate differently.
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