The college experience is full of challenges. One of the trickiest issues to deal with is surviving in a completely new living arrangement. It may take a few months to get used to, but usually by second semester students are able to focus their energies on other aspects of college life--that is, unless University Housing delivers a random new roommate for the next semester.
Second-year College student Sarah Reynolds received a new roommate this semester in Bice House without prior notification.
Reynolds said she was lucky to have no roommate fall semester because of changing plans.
"I had originally applied with somebody, but it ended up that they became an RA, and then the second person I applied with became an RA as well," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said she had no idea she was getting a new roommate until the day she met her.
"I did not expect it at all--when I walked in and saw her, it was a total shock," Reynolds said. "I was initially kind of upset."
Not only is the system problematic for students receiving the new roommates, Reynolds said it was disconcerting for the new arrivals as well.
"It wasn't fair to my roommate either, because when she came in, all my stuff was on the other side of the room," Reynolds said. "She didn't know which side she should live in."
Second-year College student Drewry Nickerson transferred to the University this semester from the College of Charleston. According to Nickerson, new roommates are informed of where they are going to be living well before the move-in date.
"U.Va Housing sent me paperwork, and about two days after I replied they emailed me back," Nickerson said. "They were really diligent--I found out my placement a week after sending in my information."
Nickerson said that her roommate knew she was coming because she was able to contact her ahead of time.
"University Housing informed me of my roommate and gave me her contact information, but I'm not sure that they warned her or the rest of the suite about me," Nickerson said.
As a new student to the University, Nickerson said she is satisfied with her living situation.
"I thought it would be difficult to find living arrangements in general," Nickerson said. "I am very satisfied."
Despite the temporary shock, Reynolds said she also is happy with the way her situation turned out.
"She's sitting in well with the whole apartment," Reynolds said of her new roommate. "We all really like her."
To improve the housing system, however, students suggested that the University handle the situation differently.
"Housing could do a better job of informing both parties," Reynolds said. "They should have sent notification ahead of time."
Chief Housing Officer Mark Doherty explained that students should be aware of the possibility of receiving a new roommate. He said students who have a single room first semester may end up with a roommate after winter break, depending on the demand.
"We always give notices to students if they have a vacancy informing them that they could get a roommate," Doherty said.
Students do not receive another notice, however, when a roommate is assigned. According to Doherty, the new student moving into the room is given information and can contact the original roommate. The new roommate, whether a transfer student or simply someone who is changing rooms, is able to have a say in where he or she moves.
"What happens typically is students inquire if there is an opportunity to change rooms," Doherty said. "We give a list of vacancies to meet their requirements, and they let us know what they decide. Our perspective is that it is important to give options and see how to create a mutual fit."
Doherty said that University Housing tries to satisfy demands in multiple ways.
"If the student requests information through us, one of the first recommendations would be to visit the Web site about on-Grounds offerings," Doherty said.
After browsing through the Web site, Doherty said students can contact Housing if they have any questions.
"There is a lot of give and take and questions about the options, which I think is a good thing," Doherty said. "We want to make sure its something they like."
If a student likes living alone after the first semester and would prefer to keep his or her room a single, it is possible to prevent the acquisition of a new roommate, according to Doherty.
"There is the double-single option," he said. "If it doesn't look like there will be demand for rooms, we contact the student and say, 'You have a single.' The student can elect to leave it the way it is, and if there is demand, we will assign a roommate to the student. However, by paying an extra increment the student can secure it as a single."
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