University posts 2010 Campus plan presentation, CAG expresses objections
Posted by: Juliana Brint in News, Vox Populi, tags: 2010 Campus Plan, CAG, Enrollment, Georgetown, Town-Gown Relations
While University officials have been floating plans about student life and transportation over the past couple weeks, this week is the big unveiling of the full first draft of the plan. The University will be holding three meetings with neighbors and one for students this week.
In preparation for the big week, the University put its 2010 Campus Plan presentation outline [PDF] online this weekend. Here are some of the most interesting tidbits from the presentation:
- The slide on off-campus student life activities since the 2000 campus plan boasts that the University has implemented “stronger, swifter sanctions for violations of the Code of Conduct occurring in the community.”
- The University is planning on doubling the SNAP staff and “establish two Community Advisor positions in Burleith and West Georgetown.”
- The University is requesting the opportunity to increase graduate enrollment by more than 3,200 students, the majority of which would be in the Continuing Studies program
- Georgetown is hoping to add 480 employees
- Plans for the proposed Graduate/Faculty student housing on the 1789 block may involve the conversion of six houses on N Street currently used by undergraduates
- Facilities is considering a relocation from their current headquarters under Harbin to an “alternative location on the edge of campus”
With more details the plan coming to light, the Citizens’ Association of Georgetown is weighing in on the plan. Like their peers in Burleith, CAG is less than psyched about the proposals.
CAG President Jennifer Altemus (COL ‘88) wrote in an e-mail to the Georgetown Forum listserv this weekend that she was not pleased with the fact that the University is not proposing any new undergraduate housing:
Currently there are 5,053 beds in what GU considers “on campus.” 111 of these beds are in the University owned townhouses. The lack of on campus housing puts a huge strain on the community. I am extremely disappointed with this aspect of their proposal.
To help with off campus issues they will add a second SNAP car to patrol on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights. And they plan to institute two Community Advisors who will be RAs for off campus students living amongst the students. While this is a start, I do not believe it will offset the added burden of the growth in enrollment for an already saturated community.
You can read Altemus’ full e-mail after the jump…
On Nov 3, Georgetown University made a presentation to the community about off campus issues in their 2010 Campus Plan in order to solicit input before they file with the Zoning Commission in early Feb. While they are not seeking an increase in traditional full time undergraduates, they are proposing adding over 375 non traditional undergrads. And they propose an enormous 60% growth in their graduate & professional degree programs. Unfortunately, they were unable to provide any relevant statistical data on the current and future graduate students. We hope to get that information before the end of the month.
As for housing, the University is not planning on adding any on campus housing in the next ten years despite their architect’s estimate of potential space for almost 800 beds. Currently there are 5,053 beds in what GU considers “on campus.” 111 of these beds are in the University owned townhouses. The lack of on campus housing puts a huge strain on the community. I am extremely disappointed with this aspect of their proposal.
To help with off campus issues they will add a second SNAP car to patrol on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights. And they plan to institute two Community Advisors who will be RAs for off campus students living amongst the students. While this is a start, I do not believe it will offset the added burden of the growth in enrollment for an already saturated community.
The meeting Nov 12 dealt with transportation issues. The current proposal asks for 1000 new parking spaces. 500 of these would be for the hospital. A loop road was also discussed which would allow buses using the Canal Road entrance to turn around on campus. If this goes through almost all buses will be re-routed to use Canal Road.
The next meeting is at 6:30pm Nov 16 at Visitation to discuss plans for the 1789 Block. Information is available on the Campus Plan website http://community.georgetown.edu/campusplan.html
Jennifer Altemus
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Hey Jennifer, when you were at Georgetown, didn’t you consider yourself part of the “community”? Since when is there “students” and “community”? The students ARE PART OF THE “COMMUNITY.” Until neighbors accept that and work WITH students rather than remain adverse to them, nothing will get better.
Also, Col ‘88? So you used to be cool, right? Look what 21 years has done to you.
[...] commenter “Tim” brought some of his soft-spoken manner to town-gown relations: Hey Jennifer, when you were at Georgetown, didn’t you consider yourself part of the [...]
[...] As a member of the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown, I was made aware that Georgetown University will be planning on increasing the non-traditional undergraduate student body by 375 students. I don’t know exactly how it will impact the BALS, or if it is a separate program, but I can imagine, we’ll have more people like us around here. All of this is part of the new plan proposed by the University. You can get a synopsis of everything on Vox Populi, Georgetown University’s “Voice of the People” Blog article. [...]