Housing woes

Residence Life and Housing Services (RHLS) has made it abundantly clear to all students studying abroad that they should have zero expectations for their living accommodations when they return. But at the same time, RLHS is doing its best to limit student's options by forcing everyone to wait on trying to find an off-campus apartment (per the July 28th email) but then decided once we were abroad that, actually, they would prefer us find somewhere off campus. Thanks for that, RLHS.

We have received two e-mails from RLHS reminding us what awaits us, which I copied and pasted below (bold emphasis mine):

July 28, 2009

Hi Everyone!

You are receiving this note because our records indicate you are participating in a Fall 2009 Study Away program.  Please keep reading if you plan on returning to Durham for Spring 2010.

The full details of the Spring housing process will be available on our website in late September.  During October, if you are returning to Durham for Spring 2010, you will need to submit a housing application.  On your application, you will indicate any roommate or room type preferences, as well as any location preferences.

You will also have the opportunity to enter the off-campus lottery.  Students for whom Fall 2009 is their fifth semester in housing (your time on Study Away does count towards this) will be eligible for the lottery.  You should not sign any lease or agreement to live in an off-campus location until you receive confirmation that you are being released from the three-year on-campus living requirement.  Lottery results will be sent out in early November, once all housing applications, cancellations, and lottery requests have been received. The number of students lotteried off will be dependent on how many students cancel their housing to go abroad, graduate, etc.

One thing we can say with certainty - the likelihood of roommate pairs being placed together this Spring will be much lower than last year.  Last year, pairing people up was easy because Few Quad was being reopened after renovations.  This year, we are back to the more normal situation where vacancies will be scattered, and open doubles and apartments will be scarce.  We understand this may be disappointing, and we hope that you will all have realistic expectations about your housing assignments for Spring 2010.

Jen Frank

Assistant Director of Accommodations

Residence Life and Housing Services

September 14, 2009

Hi Everyone,

We are writing to share that Spring 2010 Housing information is now

available on our website:

http://rlhs.studentaffairs.duke.edu/applications/index.html

Some key points:

- The off-campus lottery application is due October 7.  Results will be

emailed October 14th.

- The deadline to apply for on-campus housing is October 31.

- Our current projections show that there will be very few opportunities to

place roommate pairs together on-campus for Spring 2010.  If living with

your preferred roommate is your top priority, we encourage you to consider

the off-campus lottery.

- Opening for Spring is Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 12pm.  Plan to arrive

at this time or later.

- Closing for Spring 2010 is Monday, May 10, 2010 at 12pm.  Graduating

seniors and those approved to stay later for other approved activities will

move out by May 17, 2010 at 12pm.

Please review the Spring Housing information in full and complete the

appropriate application by the stated deadline.  You may contact Housing

Accommodations with questions about this process.

Thank you for your attention to this process!

Jen

--

Jen Frank

Assistant Director of Accommodations

Residence Life and Housing Services