Summer housing offered to students

Heading off campus for the summer is not an easy or viable option for some New College students during a global pandemic.

International students may not be able to return to their home countries. And housing-insecure students may not have the resources to relocate.

To address these and other related issues, New College plans to offer summer housing from May 24 to August 17.

“This was done in response to our students’ needs due to the COVID-19 situation,” said Mark Stier, Ph.D., the senior associate dean for student affairs at New College. “Those students who are unable to go home at the end of the semester will now have a safe and secure option for the summer.”

Housing will be available on a limited basis on the first floor of Dort Residence Hall. All current safety policies will remain in effect for the summer, which may include COVID-19 testing requirements and face covering regulations. Housing applications are due by May 1.

Offering summer housing is not typical for New College, as the residence halls are vacated after classes end each spring. However, a small group of students did remain on campus last summer due to pandemic-related obstacles.

So, what will staffing look like on campus this summer?

“The area that will assume a vast majority of the responsibility will be the housing office, campus police and live-in professional staff,” Stier said. “Normally, we spend our summer with camps/conferences and preparing for the fall term. This year, we will need to provide additional housing and security for those who will be on campus.”

The team from the Student Activities and Campus Engagement (SA[u]CE) office will be working to keep the New College Food Pantry stocked for summer residents. Residential Life will also hire two or three resident advisers to assist with managing the summer housing operations, Stier said.

Students eligible for summer housing include:

• International students who are unable to return to their home countries
• Students classified by Financial Aid and/or Case Management as “housing insecure”
• Students participating in any New College-sponsored internship or faculty-related research project (proof of internship/research is required)
• Summer student employees (a letter from an employer is required)
• Students working on Independent Study Projects (ISPs), with written confirmation from the faculty adviser or other appropriate official from the Provost’s Office
• Students who have a Fall 2021 on-campus housing assignment

Summer Residence Hall Contracts are available for four weeks or longer. Students needing housing for shorter durations will be subject to the standard daily housing rates. Financial assistance may be available. The College will not provide dining options during the summer.

For more information on fees and deadlines, call 941-487-4504 or email [email protected].

Abby Weingarten is the senior editor in the Office of Communications & Marketing.