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Housing Frequently Asked Questions
April 2008
How many students will be living in The Quarter?
We estimate that between 100 and (at the most) 160 students will be living in The Quarter during the 2008-09 academic year. The final count will depend on enrollment for the fall semester, transfer students, students returning from leaves of absence, and other last-minute changes that we simply cannot predict now.
Can rising sophomores live at The Quarter, so more space opens up for juniors and seniors who want to live on campus?
At this time, we will allow rising sophomores with a clean judicial record and a minimum GPA to move to The Quarter. Please note that this is not likely to make more singles available on campus – only more doubles. We ask that any rising sophomores who want to move to The Quarter contact the Office of Community Living immediately.
How many students live in nearby off-campus apartments this year?
Currently, 77 students live off campus in Goucher-leased apartments at the Dulaney Crescent and Dulaney Valley Apartments.
How many apartments will Goucher have at The Quarter, and how many students will live in each apartment?
Goucher will rent between 35 and 40 two-bedroom apartments at The Quarter, which will house four students each.
Why weren’t Goucher students and parents told about this sooner?
The Goucher College administration should have communicated earlier to students that a larger number of them would be needed to live in nearby off-campus apartments in the fall. Unfortunately, we did not receive confirmation that spaces would be available in The Quarter until the week of April 14, and we neglected to ask for volunteers before room draw. When the spaces were confirmed, we moved forward as quickly as possible.
Why do students have to live in The Quarter in the first place?
For a few years now, we have been struggling with a lack of adequate on-campus housing for Goucher students. Construction of the “T” added 190 new beds on campus, but that has not been enough. The good news is that our enrollment is growing, and that more and more students are applying to Goucher. The bad news is that the growing pains are felt most acutely in student housing. Our growth in enrollment is not unexpected -- it is one of the goals of our Strategic Plan, which calls for Goucher to reach 1,500 students by the fall semester of 2008 -- a healthy number for a small liberal arts college. But as we grow, we need to take enrollment trends and our study-abroad requirement into consideration, and not overbuild housing until we are certain our student population will remain consistent and sustainable. Furthermore, providing a nearby off-campus housing alternative aligns us with the housing policies of many of our peer institutions.
Why couldn’t we just keep the triples of the last two years?
We eliminated the triples in order to improve the quality of life for our first-year students. Having students in triples did not violate fire codes, but we believed there was an issue of overcrowding in the dorms and we wanted to address it.
What measures will be taken to make sure students living at The Quarter are safe?
Goucher’s Public Safety Office will provide driving and walking escorts to and from The Quarter for any student who asks. The college will also put mechanisms in place to make sure those escorts are available on a timely and efficient basis. Goucher administrators will check with The Quarter management to see if our public safety officers can make rounds there, as they have done at the Dulaney Valley Apartments and Dulaney Crescent. In addition, all non-resident visitors to The Quarter must be buzzed in, and video cameras will also be located in the garage and at the building entrances. Finally, we have the traffic light at the corner of Dulaney Valley Road and the entrance to Goucher College to ensure safe crossing for pedestrians.
Will there be a shuttle to transport students to and from The Quarter?
The Goucher administration is looking into this option. If we do provide a shuttle, we will do so on a pilot basis through the end of the fall semester and then assess the frequency of its use before providing one in the spring. It may be that the Baltimore Collegetown Network shuttle can add an extra stop at The Quarter.
Will the Goucher students living in apartments at The Quarter be grouped together?
The apartments will be situated in clusters of three or four throughout the first four levels in one building.
Does The Quarter have parking?
It has not yet been confirmed, but we have been told to expect that each apartment unit will have two assigned parking spaces. Additional free parking will be available in the Dorsey lot for those students who want/need it. The Quarter will also have limited visitor parking.
What if I have been assigned to The Quarter and I want to live on campus?
The Office of Community Living is maintaining an up-to-date wait list. Students who want to live on campus will be notified as space becomes available.
What if I have been assigned to a room on campus, but I want to live at The Quarter?
We encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering to reside in an apartment at The Quarter to contact the Office of Community Living as soon as possible.
Will there be incentives for those students moving to The Quarter?
Currently the only incentives for students moving to The Quarter are free parking in the Dorsey lot and the option of a smaller meal plan, such as the “50 block commuter plan,” which they can purchase ($700 regular or $800 kosher, with 50 dining dollars included in each plan).
What will happen if construction of The Quarter is not completed by the time students move in?
If this happens, students will be temporarily housed in the Dulaney Valley Apartments, and The Quarter will provide movers to move students into The Quarter. Ideally, apartments at The Quarter will be completed by August 15, 2008, but it is possible that the apartments might not be ready until the first week in September.
What will happen to financial aid benefits for students living at The Quarter?
Every financial aid package is different. If students have only merit awards, for example, there should be no difference in financial aid if they live off campus. Other cases must be reviewed on an individual basis by the Office of Student Financial Aid. One thing to keep in mind is that students living off campus are not required to purchase a meal plan; without a meal plan, their direct costs would consist of tuition, fees, and room – which could lower their financial need.
What will happen to early arrivals who are going to live in The Quarter?
Early arrival students will be housed on campus until it is time for them to move to The Quarter.
Many students feel they were rushed into choosing roommates. Can they change roommates?
Students still have time to change their roommates. If you would like to make a roommate change, please contact the Office of Community Living as soon as possible.
Will The Quarter close over the winter break?
The apartments will remain open during the winter break.
How will The Quarter apartments be furnished?
The apartments will have the same furniture as all dorms at Goucher College: a bed, mattress, dresser, desk, and chair for each student. It will be up to students to provide any other furniture they want, as they now do in the “T” and Sondheim.
Will a sense of community exist among Goucher students living at The Quarter?
We certainly hope that the four community assistants (CAs) who will be assigned to The Quarter (one on each floor where Goucher students will live) will help to build a sense of community. We recognize that community-building can be a challenge for those students living in apartments, but the Community Living staff is committed to making additional efforts to strengthen and sustain a strong, supportive environment.
What else can you tell students about the apartments at The Quarter?
We are excited about The Quarter because it includes many amenities for students, such as a fitness center, yoga studio, club room, coffee bar, club theater, and gardens. The apartments are air conditioned and have cable access, Internet access, microwave ovens, and their own washers/dryers. You can learn more about The Quarter at www.lifeatthequarter.com
What is the point of Goucher’s requirement that parents approve of any student’s decision to live in a gender-neutral apartment in The Quarter?
Goucher College requires parental notification, not permission, for those students who choose to reside in gender-neutral housing. This notification of parents is practiced at many of our peer, liberal arts institutions and is not generally considered unusual. Since parents are typically the ones paying for students’ accommodations, it does not seem unreasonable for them to be aware of such a choice made by their children.