THE POLITICS OF HOUSING
A newly constructed housing complex gives schools in University Heights a run for their money
Kejal Vyas
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News
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In an effort to create more housing opportunities for students in the University Heights area, officials first welcomed the addition of University Centre, the new 838-bed housing complex at the corner of Central Avenue and Lock Street.
But competition seems to be the name of the game.
According to Tim Johnson, associate dean of Housing and Residence Life at Rutgers-Newark, University Centre was barred from setting up advertising tables in the student center on the Rutgers campus for most of the year.
"Since they are a competitor, we aren't going to hand them our list (of students) and just say 'go,'" added Johnson. "We have our numbers to worry about too," Johnson said, discussing how the school has to fill the three R-N dorms before a competitor can have access to the campus.
Steven Elliott, property-marketing coordinator for American Campus Communities (University Centre's parent corporation which has built student housing facilities like this across the country), said "It wasn't until March that we were able to set up stalls on campus," which allowed the company to access students directly.
However, the company was able to bypass the college officials by advertising in the Observer and the Vector, the campus newspaper of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
At NJIT, administrators have made changes to housing policies in order to keep students at their dorms instead of moving them to University Centre, said Lynn Riker, director of residence life.
Last semester, administrators altered a rule that required all student residents to purchase a meal plan by excluding juniors and seniors. The change would cut costs for students who did not wish to buy a meal plan and provided an incentive for students to stay in the dorms, Riker explained.
Earlier in the year, NJIT officials also saw a marketing campaign by University Centre as directly aimed at drawing students away from dorms. The promotional deal offered students a $525 first-year discount on the lease which officials at the college thought was too similar to the $500 fee that the school charges students who decide to opt out of their housing contract, Riker said.
But competition seems to be the name of the game.
According to Tim Johnson, associate dean of Housing and Residence Life at Rutgers-Newark, University Centre was barred from setting up advertising tables in the student center on the Rutgers campus for most of the year.
"Since they are a competitor, we aren't going to hand them our list (of students) and just say 'go,'" added Johnson. "We have our numbers to worry about too," Johnson said, discussing how the school has to fill the three R-N dorms before a competitor can have access to the campus.
Steven Elliott, property-marketing coordinator for American Campus Communities (University Centre's parent corporation which has built student housing facilities like this across the country), said "It wasn't until March that we were able to set up stalls on campus," which allowed the company to access students directly.
However, the company was able to bypass the college officials by advertising in the Observer and the Vector, the campus newspaper of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
At NJIT, administrators have made changes to housing policies in order to keep students at their dorms instead of moving them to University Centre, said Lynn Riker, director of residence life.
Last semester, administrators altered a rule that required all student residents to purchase a meal plan by excluding juniors and seniors. The change would cut costs for students who did not wish to buy a meal plan and provided an incentive for students to stay in the dorms, Riker explained.
Earlier in the year, NJIT officials also saw a marketing campaign by University Centre as directly aimed at drawing students away from dorms. The promotional deal offered students a $525 first-year discount on the lease which officials at the college thought was too similar to the $500 fee that the school charges students who decide to opt out of their housing contract, Riker said.
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