Compilation of Student Comments about Housing from Survey conducted through August 11th, 2003
By Jim Rovira
Comment 1:
I feel that Drew University is not seriously committed to the needs of its graduate students, and question the value of my Drew graduate degree as a result.
Comment 2:
Extending LAN lines to current graduate housing would be ever so nice.
Comment 3:
Most of all, the advantage of living on-campus within a small one-bed apartment is that one can have a playground at which most of children and spouses can meet and share their information and life stories. It is more than just a playground. I really wonder if any of off-campus places can offer such a extraordinary living environment.
Comment 4:
For question no. 8, it depends on the school; no housing is available within 45-60 minutes of Drew for anything less than around 1200+ per month; family housing near Drew" is really not available within a price range grad students can afford on mostly one income- even if that income is high... perhaps single housing can be found but many grad students have families; also as I understand it from the housing office (a couple of years ago), and this has traditionally also included grad students because of the close connection to the theological school... has this intention changed? Also grad students (in my experience and as reported by many others) often find difficulty in securing off campus housing because they do not demonstrate the kind of monthly income levels that others trying for the same housing present... it s a kind of credit problem. When [my wife] and I did secure housing in Madison a few years ago (when I was a theological student and had savings and lower educational costs so as to afford Madison housing) we were among several who were competing for the same two bedroom apartment. we almost lost out to others but did not because we were able to pay much of our year's rent in advance (from savings)... had we not been able to do that we would have been turned down and the unit would have gone to someone else... further we were in a competitive bidding situation with one other party; campus housing is secured among other things via the business office- that is a feature that will never be available for off campus housing. Off campus housing in the region is very problematic for grad students especially those with families... and this survey, I suspect is part of a larger discussion concerning moving grad housing off campus... with other issues such as lower scholarship levels, the lack of any living stipends, etc., (realities already noted) moving grad housing off campus, if considered without dealing with the financial issues presented by off campus housing in the present context here at Drew is premature at the very least.
Comment 5:
First, thanks for coming up with this survey. Second and more importantly, housing is by far the worst aspect of grad life here at Drew (in my opinion). The problems are numerous: from the inadequate structure and space of the apartments (even the larger 2 and 3 bedroom units have small kitchens and limited closets) , to the ridiculous competition for parking with non-Drew visitors (something wholly overlooked in the recent report on parking in The Acorn), to the sometimes slow response of Facilities to make repairs, to the attitude of the administration (when I first arrived here, the then housing director told me not to complain because I was lucky to get any anything on campus; I have also heard that one of the Deans has shrugged off complaints on more than on occasion by saying the situation is worse at other schools), to the recent and unfortunate cutting of grad resident assistants from the Res Life staff. Money and space are in short supply at Drew, I realize. However, I also believe that if the grad/married housing situation at Drew is not improved soon, it will seriously affect Drew's ability to attract high caliber grad students and their ability to contribute to the academic reputation of the university. I have answered yes" to all the above questions more to express my desire for *any* alternative to the present situation than out of a specific sense of what grad students will and will not be willing or able to do. Some may not want to relocate their children to a new school.
Comment 6:
It think that on-campus housing is very important for graduate students, especially international students with families and single parents who depend on the Drew community for security and peace of mind. In addition, off-campus housing will require extended year-round library hours, as well as extended hours in the university commons to accommodate those students who would now have to travel to campus. And, perhaps, Drew would need to provide child-care services. It is my opinion that on campus housing is vital for graduate students, as well as undergraduates. Drew should consider CLA housing on the basis of distance. CLA students who live within a certain distance to the school cannot have housing. Or simply get up off the money and build a CLA dormitory.
Comment 7:
WE NEED MORE apartments for graduate students. The situation is terrible. Do you know THE HOUSING PROBLEM? Nobody cares about this problem, even our Dean. The simple answer, I'm sorry. That's it. Some STUDENTS who get chance to get the apartment on campus live [here] 5 years, OTHERS OFF CAMPUS. The cost is higher than on campus, BUT THE SCHOOL DOES NOT GIVE any help financially. It's not fair. Change the rules.
Comment 8:
Personally, my most important concern for housing right now would be that of very temporary housing for visits to see dissertation advisors since I live 700 miles away from campus. Cheap, on campus, walking distance basic housing for a night to a week long stay would be most helpful to me.
Comment 9:
I would be far more interested in seeing significant and worthwhile improvements made to the housing that exists already (e.g., space, amenities, billing/financing arrangements, etc.) than in seeing effort put into finding off-campus alternatives, especially considering how unlikely it is that I'll be here long enough to benefit from any such alternatives. If they can't give us decent housing now for what we pay, what on earth makes them think they'll be able to offer something better at a comparable amount? If that's the case, why not provide more now, or else decrease the amount we have to pay? And if places like Green Villa already struggle to stay on the radar when it comes to maintenance and upkeep, let alone when it comes to the benefits that other on-campus housing facilities receive (e.g., cable, telephone, and network access), how much worse will it be when housing is located even further off-campus? Needless to say, I'm highly skeptical.
Comment 10:
I wish there were certain alternatives for the Ph.D. students who had to vacate the residences in the campus after five years so that they could be allowed to have the single room-type on/off campus residencies for their 6th year. This would save the desperate students who have to complete their study near the Drew Library.
Comment 11:
Graduate School is a big enough financial burden as it is. I think adding the cost of needing a car, and the insurance, gas, repairs, parking fees, etc. that go with it, is far too prohibitive -- and this on top of more expensive housing!!! With insurance rates in New Jersey as high as they are you would be asking Graduate students to add more than $5,000 a year.
Comment 12:
I think a further decrease in on campus grad student housing is a really, really bad idea.
Comment 13:
Graduates MUST be considered for housing also, they are students. Especially international students have suffered a lot in Drew University for lack of housing yet they do not have full blown scholarships as other students. The University needs to consider this seriously -Otherwise academic standards are compromised at the expense of survival. I sincerely feel if Drew University does not have enough resources for international students it should tell them this from the on set so students don’t come here to be humiliated when they would have gone to some other better places. _My Opinion- as the chair of one of the international students associations.
Comment 14:
Usually, Ph.D. students do not finish their studies within 5 years for different personal reasons. Graduate housing should give students at least 6 years for living on campus.
Comment 15:
It seems to me that Drew Housing office is preparing to move the Graduate Students out of the campus. I believe most of the Graduate students want to live on campus and are not willing to move anyway.
Comment 16:
Drew's graduate students benefit socially, personally, and intellectually in community with each other and with the rest of the university - we operate well as a unique set as well as in union with the university concept and philosophy as a whole - thanks for the survey - Jennifer Tolaram (D.Litt. program) CLA'82, G'84.
Comment 17:
Relocating grad students - particularly those with family - would greatly benefit from competent relocation assistance. We were forced to find our own in the Yellow pages after ascertaining that Drew housing folks were unable to help us. By the way - our kids attended Kings Road Elem. School and the Jr High, and the High School. All did well and had positive experiences in Madison. Thanks for trying to improve the housing situation. Dawn Kyser
Comment 18:
While doing coursework I lived and worked as a full-time pastor in another NJ town, so never lived near Madison. After coursework I moved to Atlanta, so I don't feel qualified to answer these questions. I did make use of the apartments in Green Village (am I remembering the name correctly?) when I came up for comps and a couple of special seminars, and was extremely grateful for that benefit.
Comment 19:
The university should work toward offering off-campus housing priced significantly lower than Madison-area rental costs, even if these are slightly higher than current graduate school rental costs and even if some form of commute to campus is necessitated. Graduate student housing, especially for students with spouses and/or children needs drastic improvement.
Comment 20:
I'm a commuter student and only stay on campus one or two nights a week. I drive in some distance every week (four hours). While not the only factor (my wife's employment being a major one, and our daughter's place in school), the cost of Madison housing (both on and off-campus) was a significant factor in my decision to commute.