Residence

Life Proposes New Housing System

By: Elizabeth Briggs

Spring Hill Colleges lottery system may be changed before housing selection
begins for the 2015-2016 academic year.
The Residence Life Advisory Council (RLAC) began discussing the possibility
of a new lottery system in November 2014 and has been met with opposition by the
Student Government Association (SGA).

The current lottery system is based on a students time at Spring Hill. Under
this system, students are prioritized based on the date they were admitted. RLAC is
proposing a new system because of a failure to account for transfer students.
According to the Office of Residence Life, there were 168 transfer students, about
11% of the student body, in the Fall 2014 semester.
Mark Mullen, a member of RLAC, stressed the importance of having a
standardized housing system that is fair for all students. He stated, Under the
current system, the transfers are very negatively impacted. So, unless we treat them
on a case by case basis, they will never have the standing of someone who has been
at the college for four years.

Based on research of other universities housing lotteries, RLAC created three
new options for SHCs lottery system, in addition to the current system:
Priority based academic achievement: a calculation would combine total credit
hours earned and cumulative GPA to assign priority within class levels.
Priority based on academic progress: total credit hours earned would assign priority
within class levels.
Priority based on academic standing: priority would be based exclusively on
academic standing, then randomized within each grade level.
Priority based on time at SHC; the current system.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, RLAC hosted an open forum to discuss these proposed
systems and the possibility of emailing a survey to the student body. This survey
would be sent to see what system students prefer.
According to SGA President Ricardo Pita, SGA opposed the idea of a new lottery
system, and the necessity of a survey, based on the grounds that random is fairest;
with a stipulation made for transfer and re-admit students. Furthermore, he said,
The current system is not perfect; we understand there are changes that need to be
made. In addressing the problem transfer students face in the current system, Pita
stated, At no point has RLAC discussed changes to the current system for just these
students.
President Pita sees no need to rush the survey. As a result of last Tuesdays
forum, an SGA senator-led committee is looking into the presentation of the survey
and its overall necessity.
Mullen reiterated that RLAC aims to give the student body a chance to voice their
housing preferences by completing the survey. He stated, The hope of the RLAC is
to survey the student body about possible housing options. As the Student
Government Association has opposed this measure, I would encourage students
who feel strongly about the housing selection process to email both their class
senators and the Office of Residence Life.

On a related note, Adam Bernot, Director of Residence Life, shared that SHC is
working hard in the hopes of making Langan Hall available for student housing by
next semester. Bernot stated, We expect to make an official announcement prior to
housing selection in April, regarding whether Langan Hall will be ready for students
to move in for Fall Semester 2015.
Housing applications will be due in early April, regardless of which lottery
system is selected. The lottery process will follow later that month.