Talking Stick - September/October 2016 - 24

RES LIFE
a safer, more secure place to live.
Residence life departments are
responding to the changing needs
and demographics of their students
by offering housing options during
academic breaks and also updating
the requirements to stay during those
break periods.

As student demographics and
needs change, institutions are
becoming nimble with break
housing plans.

These options are important for
many reasons. "When I first came
here nine years ago, Thanksgiving
break was the only break we were truly
closed. Even athletics teams made other
arrangements if their players needed
to stay late or return early. As we have
seen a shift in our student population
and their needs, we have adjusted as
well. We do, on occasion, get requests
from students who tell us that they do
not have anywhere else to go or that
things at home are not good and they
need to stay on campus. In addition,
we have started to see an increase
in the number of students who have
off-campus jobs and need to stay to be
able to work," explains Jen Richardson,
director of residence life at the College
of Saint Rose in Albany, New York.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY

All Accommodating
Break housing doesn't have to
break the budget.
by Stacy Oliver-Sikorski

A break between academic terms used
to mean that the residence halls stood
dark and empty while students went
home to spend time with family and
friends. Some also used that time to
work, earning money to foot the next
tuition bill. For other students, breaks
were spent at a vacation destination

24

KNOWLEDGE
DOMAINS
TALKING STICK
in this article

with friends, a reward for successfully
completing another round of final
exams. The absence of students from
campus translated to a slower pace
for faculty and staff who remained at
work, an opportunity to catch up on
large projects while also catching
their breath. Leaving campus isn't
an option for all students, however.
Whether due to distance, finances,
or safety - or some combination of
those factors - campus is seen as

Occupancy
Establish rules and requirements regarding eligibility.
Process requests for exceptions to contract agreements.

Others may stay during the
break if they are student-athletes, are
working on campus or participating
in an internship or student teaching,
or if they are international students.
These are common parameters for
campuses that provide housing, though
some departments have opened break
housing options to all students in
an effort to be inclusive. At Florida
Atlantic University in Boca Raton,
winter break housing is available to all
students who have an active current
semester contract and a contract for the
subsequent semester. "Our president
is committed to increasing out-of-state
and international student numbers
at the institution. With this comes an
offering of programs and services. To
this end, the vice president of student
affairs has promoted and championed
break housing across the university,"
says Larry Faerman, executive director
Talking Stick - September/October 2016

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