Students dig through pockets as $150 deposit is demanded
As the end of the semester gets closer, students are itching to sign up for housing for the 2011-2012 academic year, even with the new fee changes.
Bayou Village and Commons II are hot commodities amongst the ULM students.
In fact, they are so sought after that students decided to camp outside of Residential Life, over night, to better their chances of receiving one or the other.
Yet, because there are so many reservations followed by cancellations at the last minute, student’s chances of receiving their first choice are lowered.
The problem has resulted in ULM implementing a new policy where $150 prepayment of fall housing is due by June 1.
Initially ULM only charged a $50 reservation fee due at the time of sign-ups.
If the prepayment isn’t paid by June 1, the student’s reservation will be cancelled.
Although some students may be excited about getting a particular room, others aren’t particularly excited about the new fee being charged.
Sophomore marketing major from Shreveport, Jaquita Smith, isn’t too happy with having to come up with $150.
“I’m upset. Some of us rely on financial aid to pay for housing, and having to pay $150 out of pocket is not an easy thing to do, even if I’ll get it back with my refund,” said Smith.
However, sophomore kinesiology major from Jonesboro, Shanetra Harris, understands the need for the change.
“I kind of understand why because there are a lot of students cancelling at the last minute. You may have requested one dorm, but it got filled, so they placed you in different dorm and then someone cancelled, but you already have an assigned room.“
Harris explained that she understood the reasoning behind the process.
“I also understand that some students depend on financial aid,” she added.
Angela Cotrese Heggler • Apr 30, 2024 at 11:33 am
While this may or may not directly relate to the article, I would like to express my belief that ULM should consider offering temporary housing options to students who need to be on campus for a week or weekend. Many students enrolled in graduate programs with on-campus rotations struggle to find affordable accommodations, with hotel prices often exceeding $500 for a week or $300+ for a weekend. As students managing tight budgets, having an affordable housing option would greatly benefit those traveling from out of town. Not only would this initiative generate additional revenue for ULM, but it would also alleviate the burden on students who would otherwise have to commute daily for classes that span a full workday. By providing temporary housing, students could remain close to campus, avoiding late-night and exhausting drives back to their lodging. Additionally, they would have easier access to campus amenities such as eateries, the gym, and the library. I am aware that some universities offer temporary or short-term housing for similar situations, and I believe that implementing such a program would be mutually beneficial for students and ULM alike.