2. Living Off-Campus
#gacrl
• Gustavus is a residential college – all students
are required to live on-campus.
• The COLLEGE is residential.
Residential Life simply manages the process.
• Residential Life is mandated to have up to 98%
occupancy (about 2107 of 2150 total beds)
3. The Process
#gacrl
Groups for off-campus applications
Size of groups: 1 to 8
Average Room Draw number taken
Order of consideration: groups of SENIORS, then
groups of SENIORS/JUNIORS, then groups of JUNIORS
4. The Process
#gacrl
Translation…
SENIORS should not finalize plans to be off-campus.
Odds are low to receive permission.
JUNIORS should NOT make off-campus an option.
Seriously, don’t even apply.
5. The Application
#gacrl
Important stuff…
• EACH person in the group MUST fill out an
application.
• List everyone you want to apply with…
• People currently off campus should NOT be listed
on application (they won’t influence your status).
• Gusties in your group who qualify for automatic
permission will NOT be factored into your group’s
average number
6. Residency Exemptions
#gacrl
• Married
• A veteran of active military service.
• 23 years old by the first day of class of fall
semester 2017.
• Have custodial responsibility for dependent
children.
• Live with your custodial parents/guardians in
the St.Peter area (w/in 15 miles).
• Be home owner (100% of home – sole name on mortgage).
7. Crunching Numbers
#gacrl
For 2016-2017
About 30 people retained permission
210 new applications
About 75 were granted permission
About 120 seniors did not receive permission
No mixed groups of seniors/juniors got permission
For 2017-2018
Factors:
• Overall enrollment (it’s low)
• Size of incoming first-year class
• Number of Gusties who transfer OUT or withdraw
• Number of incoming transfer students
10. Living Off-Campus
What people may miss considering when
thinking of moving off-campus:
•Parking
•Utilities
•Convenience & connection to campus
•City regulations & enforcement
•Cooking for yourself
•Roommates change
•Property Maintenance (like snow removal)
#gacrl
11. It’s cheaper to live off-campus
It’s easy to get out of a lease
Landlords are screened/professional
Being off-campus equals freedom
Living Off-Campus:
Myths
#gacrl
12. Things to Consider:
Price Range
What’s included, what’s not?
Utilities
Maintenance
Internet
Lawn/Snow
Parking
Distance from campus
Number of Roommates
Over-occupancy ordinance: in St.
Peter: no more than 4 unrelated
individuals can share a single unit
(single family home, half of a duplex,
etc.)
Research the Property
Inquire about the landlord
Inquire about the
neighborhood
Inquire about the neighbors
Check the property out
Inspect the property
thoroughly
The Search:
Finding an off-campus property
#gacrl
13. Remember, a lease is a legally-binding document.
Read the lease thoroughly before signing
You can negotiate the lease with the landlord
For example: If your inspections revealed
something you want fixed before you move in,
have that written into the lease
Understand all expectations
Sub-leasing,
Refund of Security Deposit
How/when rent is due
The Lease
#gacrl
14. Document condition of property before you
move anything in
Use photos, with date stamp
Have landlord present! Request it…
Meet your neighbors
Make the awkward first move as soon as
possible… (cookies help)
Exchange contact info
Set up utilities
Renters Insurance
Moving In…
#gacrl
15. Neighbors
Who are they?
Mutual respect
Communication
Noise
Ideas to introduce yourself?
55.3% of Gusties say they have
tried to get to know neighbor
Safety
Lock it up!
Fire plan
Emergency weather plan
Of those who have had
contact with SPPD, 75% say
it was positive
Neighbors & Safety
#gacrl
16. The line between “having a few people over” and a “party” is VERY thin.
Know the people at your party
Only let people in who you know
Only 46.4% of respondents to our off-campus survey said they strongly agree that they are
comfortable controlling gatherings at their off-campus house
Remember: THE LAW MATTERS!
You’re STILL a Gustie, even off campus…
Parties
#gacrl
Charlie’s Notes
Thanks for being here tonight
Promise to keep things moving
Give a basic overview of what to expect or think about when moving off campus
We understand you have friends who live off campus or you fully believe you are ready… I graduated from Gustavus 10 years ago and I’m still not always ready to live off campus.
Feel Free to ask questions throughout
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
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And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Panelist - independence
----
And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Reasons you wanted to live off:
Panelist – saving money
Who is doing this to save money? How will you save money?
Panelist - independence
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And now that you’ve lived off-campus for a year or more, what are some challenges with living off-campus that you didn’t think about beforehand?
Things you didn’t anticipate about living off:
Panelist – ex: not as connected?
Panelist – ex: maintenance, snow, grass, etc.?
Panelist – ex: utilities and “hidden costs”?
*Roommates change – attitudes, values, lifestyles change. If this happens on campus, we help figure it out. Off campus you are literally legally obligated to be friends…
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Cheaper: It certainly can be, but life can also add up.
What are expenses you are thinking about right now?
-Utilities (water, gas, garbage, electricity. Old house = heat expensive)
-Food, groceries
-Can be more expensive socially and academically.
Getting out of a lease:
It’s not. It’s a binding legal document. Landlords don’t like to lose money and won’t always be flexible about changing a lease you signed.
Landlords:
It’s a gamble. St.Peter has some really good landlords… but at the heart of it, they are selling the idea that their house is the best. You don’t necessarily have the luxury of what someone buying a home gets to have with inspections and documentation. You are putting a lot of trust into someone you have just met… and someone you are paying a lot of money to over the next 12 months. Many of landlords in St.Peter are not full-time property managers – they do this as an investment and may not give the full attention you might want. Res Life has a handful of professionals to pay attention to issues and an entire Physical Plant office to repair things – you may not get the attention you are used to.
Freedom: There are freedoms. But with that freedom comes responsibility. We’ll discuss more about that in a bit. Another part of freedom results in a disconnect from campus… 92.9% of respondents to our survey said they have maintained same level of involvement or are less involved now that they are off campus (including almost 30% that only indicated that they are LESS involved now that they are off-campus).
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– price & location
– transportation/distance
– “feeling like home”, comfort
Panelists – what things did you think about? What do you wish you would have looked for or asked about?
Over-occupancy: be very careful – if your name is NOT on a lease, there’s like a reason (SKETCHY).
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– security deposits; getting repairs added to lease
– 13-month (paying for summer?!?)
– 25 page lease (read it all!)
– all tenants get copy!
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ASK AUDIENCE: What was your experience with signing the lease? Anything surprise you? Did you have anyone else look at it?
– previous tenants trashed the place
ALL – meeting your neighbors
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Remember, unlike in the Residence Halls, your neighbors off-campus aren’t always college students – some have been living there for 30+ years!
They have just as much right to live their lives in their homes as you do in yours – mutual respect is the goal
Communication is essential – keep it open and respectful
-Take 2 minutes right now and tell person next to you 2-3 things you will do (that you will ACTUALLY DO) to meet your new neighbors.
SAFETY:
– peeper example from UST & neighbors helping
– locking doors
– buddy system walking to and from campus!
-WEATHER: Nicollet County, Blue Earth and LeSueur County nearby. Pay attention to weather reports and listen for sirens!
-FIRE: Your landlord should make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, but take the time to check…
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What have your experiences been with safety off-campus?
– police – how to work with them to make life easier
– noise (noise is subjective – loud to a neighbor may not even be a big deal to you)
– friends assuming open invites (and friends of friends of friends)
– Social Host (St. Peter does NOT have social host ordinance, but does use unlawful assembly)
-Remember that the law matters! Understand the laws and the things that could happen if you have trouble with local police… this can affect law school, grad school, getting a teaching job, etc.
- Gustavus policy (JoNes)
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Who can you talk to?
-Res Life can help a little bit, but we deal with on-campus housing.
-Dean of Students office.
-Connection to local law offices.
-Gustavus has a decent working relationship with St.Peter Police and you should feel like you can approach them proactively about issues.
-Off-campus Advisory Team – already have 6-7 people who have emailed me about it. We’ll keep you posted!