This afternoon, Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey released a memo announcing pending changes in the structure of the Office of University Facilities and Student Housing, which includes the Office of Campus Activity Facilities and Student Housing.

As of July 1, 2013, OCAF and Student Housing will become part of the Division of Student Affairs. Housing and the Office of Residence Life will consolidate into one office, headed by Stephanie Lynch, Director of Residence Life since 2003. OCAF will move to Student Affairs as part of Student Engagement, and will be led by Assistant Dean Erika Cohen-Derr.

The entire Office of University Facilities and Student Housing will change to become Planning and Facilities Management. Jonalyn Ware Greene, who currently heads the Office, will transition to lead Financial Management and Business Operations for the new office.  The role of Planning and Facilities Management is to ”focus on master planning, facility infrastructure improvements and work order management implementation to facilitate service improvements,” according to the memo. These changes will not affect summer or fall housing, late stay, or activity space scheduling.

The memo, titled “Strategic Changes to Support a Vibrant Living and Learning Community,” explained that these changes came after consultation with students and faculty and took comments and questions from the Hoya Roundtables over the past two years into consideration. “We are making significant investments to bring more students on campus, and to engage students, faculty, and staff in the life of our campus, inside the classroom, in residence halls, and in the many co-curricular opportunities offered,” the memo said. ”This change comes at an exciting time and provides us the capacity to ensure students experience a premiere residential environment that supports an engaged campus community.”

Photo: Tiffany Lachhonna/Georgetown Voice

When it comes to pricey schools in the District (or in the country, for that matter), Georgetown and George Washington usually come to mind as those that reach the furthest into their students’s pockets. But, much like we were surprised to discover that Georgetown wasn’t in the top 20 most expensive schools in the country, it turns out that even our housing costs aren’t among the nation’s highest!

Earlier this week, Campus Grotto, which seems to consist entirely of price rankings, released a list of universities with the most expensive student housing. Of the top 20 schools, the only D.C. representative landing in the top 20 is American University, which ranked 18th with an annual housing cost of $13,684. According to Georgetown University’s housing website, student housing for the 2011-2012 academic year will cost students between $9,000 and $10,000. Compare that to the $18k they charge at New York City’s The New School, the university ranked #1 on Campus Grotto‘s list, and we’re practically in the bargain bin.

Georgetown University Housing Services announced yesterday that “Nevils apartments will undergo a major renovation. Improvements will include new heating and cooling systems, lighting and windows; complete renovations to bathrooms and kitchens; and updates to the fire alarm system. Additionally, all furniture will be replaced. The bulk of this work will occur during the summer.”

Only one problem: the renovations will begin during Senior Week.

Seniors that currently live in Nevils apartments will be given temporary housing during Senior Week, but they will not find out where they will be staying until May.

Housing Services plans to provide trucks to help move students’ items to the temporary housing and boxes for those who wish to ship items home early.

Read the full email after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Following Michelle Konkoly’s (COL ’14) fall from the Y wing of the fifth floor of Village C West, the University will begin placing stops in the windows to limit how far they open.

In an email to residents of VCW, Patrick Killilee, executive director of Campus Housing, wrote that the work will begin tomorrow in the upper floors of the Y wing, the location from which Konkoly fell.

Here is the full text of Killilee’s email:

Beginning at 9 am on Thursday, January 20, 2011 University Facilities staff will begin placing stops in windows that substantially limit the amount any window may be opened.  Work will begin on the upper floors of the Y Wing and progress throughout the building.  Work will take place between 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays.  Work will continue through January 31, 2011.  This project will require Facilities staff to access your room to complete the work.  We are not able to let you know what day or time staff will be coming to your room.  If you have any questions, please contact Work Management, Harbin B24 at (202) 687-3432.

Sincerely,

Patrick Killilee