Deans grant no off-campus permission for second semester
Katherine Poythress
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: News
For many Hillsdale College students, the appearance of blue housing forms each semester around campus can mark the beginning of stressful attempts to arrange housing for the coming semester. And instead of becoming easier, the process can actually become more difficult for older students and upperclassmen since they have more housing options - options like living off campus.
However, the school does not allow students to move off campus mid-year.
Senior Chandler Baer moved off-campus this year with six other girls. She said she enjoys having a place to invite people over and play host.
Baer said getting off-campus permission was easy for her. Even though she was put on the waiting list for a while, she knew she was among the first three women on the list, and the dean of women encouraged her to go ahead with shopping for a house in case a spot on the list opened up.
But last year a group of senior women ran into an unforeseen challenge when they sought permission to get off-campus together and enjoy these same privileges.
They decided mid-year to move into a house, not realizing it was against college policy to allow students off campus between the fall and spring semesters.
Vice President for Student Affairs Diane Philipp said the goal of the policy is to keep beds filled in the dormitories, since the college needs a certain amount of money from on-campus residents in order to be able to keep the dorms running properly.
The school already loses many students in December due to graduation and study abroad programs.
"We simply need to be fiscally responsible," Philipp said. She said with the opening of The Suites and recent renovations in Mauck Hall, many students are perfectly happy staying in the dorms.
Philipp said she thinks most students are aware of the policy about mid-year off-campus requests, because few students ask to move off campus for the spring semester.
Housing arrangements
Criteria used to determine student housing assignments (for both on and off-campus)
In order as shown below:
1. High school graduation year
2. Total Hillsdale College credits accumulated by end of current academic year (summer school credits do not count until fall)
3. Semester GPA (from on-campus assignments)
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
However, the school does not allow students to move off campus mid-year.
Senior Chandler Baer moved off-campus this year with six other girls. She said she enjoys having a place to invite people over and play host.
Baer said getting off-campus permission was easy for her. Even though she was put on the waiting list for a while, she knew she was among the first three women on the list, and the dean of women encouraged her to go ahead with shopping for a house in case a spot on the list opened up.
But last year a group of senior women ran into an unforeseen challenge when they sought permission to get off-campus together and enjoy these same privileges.
They decided mid-year to move into a house, not realizing it was against college policy to allow students off campus between the fall and spring semesters.
Vice President for Student Affairs Diane Philipp said the goal of the policy is to keep beds filled in the dormitories, since the college needs a certain amount of money from on-campus residents in order to be able to keep the dorms running properly.
The school already loses many students in December due to graduation and study abroad programs.
"We simply need to be fiscally responsible," Philipp said. She said with the opening of The Suites and recent renovations in Mauck Hall, many students are perfectly happy staying in the dorms.
Philipp said she thinks most students are aware of the policy about mid-year off-campus requests, because few students ask to move off campus for the spring semester.
Housing arrangements
Criteria used to determine student housing assignments (for both on and off-campus)
In order as shown below:
1. High school graduation year
2. Total Hillsdale College credits accumulated by end of current academic year (summer school credits do not count until fall)
3. Semester GPA (from on-campus assignments)
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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