This week, APSU’s Office of Housing/Residence Life and Dining Services offered a $200 incentive for upperclassmen to opt-out of housing contracts due to there being no more bed spaces for the 2016-17 term.
According to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Director of Housing Joe Mills, there are approximately 1,818 bed spaces at APSU and all are booked, prompting the deal.
“It is a strategy to open up more spaces on campus,” Mills said. “Any beds we could gain would be a bonus for us.”
The email received by any upperclassmen with a current housing contract sparked mixed emotions regarding the opportunity.
Students like junior political science major and former Hand Village resident Montreal Fisher think it was a great idea.
“The main reason I feel the upperclassmen opt-out is a good idea because it gives the freshman the opportunity to live on campus and to experience the campus as a whole like I did,” Fisher said. “I do have another place to live while attending classes this school year.”
However, some did not think it was the best idea for students.
Junior communications major Tiffany Ladd said she has lived on campus her entire college career and feels that APSU should have prepared for this situation better.
“It’s kind of crazy that we ran out of housing. APSU should have made accommodations for the freshman. $200 is a nice incentive, but also $200 isn’t really going to help anyone if you live 2-3 hours away,” Ladd said. “There’s no possible way you can afford a house or apartment in Clarksville working part time for minimum wage and freshman should know that housing is a first come first serve basis. Don’t ask your upperclassmen to give up their bed space. We chose to live on campus just as freshman have.”
Sophomore criminal justice major Anthony Hayes said he feels the shortage of bed space has everything to do with APSU offering in-state tuition to students within a 250 mile radius.
“Anyone who saw APSU’s announcement within the last year about opening up instate tuition to anyone 250 miles from the school, there is going to be an increase in enrollment in mainly freshman,” Hayes said. “To make this announcement without building additional buildings was a mistake. Housing buildings are typically at full capacity, especially the freshman halls.”
Mills said he does not expect many upperclassmen to accept the deal.
“I expect most to stay on campus,” Mills said.
The housing of overflow students has not yet been confirmed, but will be close to campus according to Mills.
“We don’t know until we have our total numbers,” Mills said. “If we do not have enough space on campus, we will look to local hotels for space.”
For more information visit www.apsu.edu/housing
This story will be updated accordingly.
