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Printer-Friendly ModeHousing posts more growth
September 10, 2007 —
A few more freshmen moved their belongings into their dorms this fall than they had in previous years. This year's on-campus freshmen population is at an all-time high of 1,029 students living in the First Year Suites, Living Center North, and most of Living Center South. In all, the number of residents living on campus this fall is up to 2,202.
Compared to previous years, the high population of incoming freshmen has contributed to the trend of housing growth at SVSU. Last year, 916 freshmen moved onto campus and the year before that, the number had been even lower; 700 students. The trend of growth and the need for more housing has people wondering if SVSU's housing will ever cap off.
"As long as the University's enrollment continues to grow, housing will too," explained Director of Housing, Ron Portwine. "We must guarantee beds for everyone that is accepted." Portwine explained that if someone living 50 miles from the University gets accepted, they are going to need a place to live; especially a first year student.
"Parents feel safer sending their kids off to school if there's some sort of structure in where they are living," Portwine said. "Campus housing provides that."
Once a student has lived on campus their first year, they choose a number from a lottery to sign up for housing for the next fall. The number gives the student the date and time when they will be able to reserve their room. This enables a fair way of letting students choose where they want to live.
As students move out of the first year housing, they are given the choice to live in either the University Village or Pine Grove. "Pine Grove is not always the first choice for students because they think that it is further from the academic buildings on campus," Portwine explained. "The truth is the very west end of the University Village is actually a further walk."
With the growth in the amount of students living on campus, parking seems to be a problem. For some, walking an extra few hundred yards seems like a punishment for lack of parking, but with designated areas for residents, there are plenty of spaces for everyone. Lots J-3 and J-4 between the campus bookstore and the intramural fields are reserved for students that live in the First Year Suites, Living Center North, and Living Center South. All parking in the University Village areas is designated for students living there. Compare walking an extra football field length with parking at a big name school like Michigan State and students would feel lucky to only have to walk a few hundred yards back to their rooms.
Next year, housing plans to add four more units with 34 beds per unit. This new housing area, which will be located west of Pine Grove, is planned on being themed housing.
Community gathering areas within the housing will provide places for people with similarities to come together. "Residents living in this themed housing could be anywhere from nursing students to international students, and even Greek housing was brought up," Portwine said. The theme of the new housing has yet to be determined. The ground-breaking for next year's new housing is planned to occur within the next month or two.
