Spring 2007

(Download the .pdf version - Adobe Acrobat Reader needed)

To Live On or Off? That is the Housing Question

On campus or off campus? Early each spring semester, students begin thinking about and discussing the question of where to live for the coming academic year. Living on campus might be the comfortable option for students that are already established in campus residence halls. They know what to expect, and they are comfortable there. Making the decision to go off campus requires more thought, more time, and more effort. Either way, it is important to carefully review the options.

Over 8,000 students call University Housing home. University Housing residence halls are not just buildings, they are living and learning centers that offer a unique college experience with a level of service special only to campus living. University Housing staff are professional educators trained to help students adjust to college life via programs, advising, and other support services. Students are close to everything on campus, including classes, libraries, events, student organizations, University offices, dining, the student health center, etc. Not to mention, students are living with hundreds of peers who have the same goal – having a great NC State experience.

Additionally, there are many different housing options available to students. Students can choose from traditional hall and suite-style rooms with a roommate or apartment-style units with the privacy of a single bedroom.

Students also have the option to apply for and take advantage of the Resident Advisor (RA) position. RAs are highly trained student staff who have the unique opportunity to live with and be a resource for a group of students throughout the year. Living on campus allows students to concentrate on their academic success, personal development and social networking.

Living off campus has its advantages as well. Often students are able to learn many skills in independent living by managing their rent, bills, and roommate situations. Students may have more flexibility in finding a living situation that meets their needs, whether it is size, location, or space. Several considerations that students and their parents should keep in mind when choosing an offcampus housing arrangement are as follows:

• Location. Location should be one of the most important items on a student’s list when examining apartments, especially if he or she does not have a car. How close is the location to NC State’s campus, the student’s job, the Wolfline (NC State’s bus system), supermarket, bank, laundry, etc?
• Safety. Students need to examine the area, talk to people that live there, or lived there in the past. The Raleigh Police Department will share crime statistics for a particular area upon request with a specific address. Additionally, there are many online tools that provide research, including crime statistics and registered sex offenders, by zip code.
• Parking. If a student does have a car, he or she will want to know where to park. Does he or she need a campus-parking permit, and how much will that cost? Is there parking available on the street or in private lots?
• Adequate accommodations. Students should inspect the apartment thoroughly before they sign anything and should not hesitate to test appliances, faucets, etc. while looking at the apartment. Students need to consider if they need a furnished or unfurnished apartment, which if any utilities are included in the rent, length of lease, whether pets are allowed, or other concerns that are necessary to their living environment.
• Neighbors. Students should get to know their neighbors, introduce themselves, and create an open line of communication. They should also attend neighborhood association meetings to find out what’s happening in the neighborhood.
• Be a good neighbor. Students should be aware of local noise and party ordinances and the associated fines or jail time that result from a violation. Students also need to know that, whether they live on or off campus, they have to abide by the Code of Student Conduct. Charges by local law enforcement may be subject to sanctions imposed by the University.
• Staying connected on campus. Research shows that off-campus students need to maintain a strong connection to campus. They need to read the campus newspaper, spend time studying on campus, eat on campus, and continue to take advantage of the abundance of services and opportunities that are available to them. Students living in on-campus housing have the luxury of reminders right outside their doors, whereas off-campus students have to deliberately seek out information.

The University offers many resources to students who live off campus. The Department of Campus Activities (1202 Talley Student Center) produces a booklet on “Strategies for Successful Off-Campus Living,” which addresses leases, city ordinances, and offcampus conduct. The Office of Student Legal Services (4128 Talley Student Center, 515.7091, www.ncsu.edu/stud_affairs/legal_services/) has information on negotiating leases and is available to review a lease for students prior to signing. They provide information on joint vs. separate leases, move-in inspections, renter’s insurance, and even roommates. Under no circumstances should students accept that “they must sign a lease within a few hours” for the deal to be valid. This is a common high-pressure sales tactic used by local property managers.

The University’s bus system, the Wolfline, provides easy access to the campus with convenient and frequent stops in surrounding neighborhoods. Students need to allow for travel time, as well as the chance of overcrowding, bad weather, or missed stops. The Department of Transportation offers an online GPS tracking system for their buses at ncsu.transloc-inc.com where students can properly time their trips.

University Housing (1112 Pullen Hall, 515.2440) provides a listing of off-campus apartment complexes, rooms in homes, apartment-finder books, and a list of students looking for roommates. The Department of Campus Activities coordinates an off-campus housing fair every spring where students can “shop” local apartment complexes for information.

There are many considerations to make before settling on a final decision. Students need to debate both options and decide what is most practical and appropriate for their personal needs. Ultimately, the final decision is a personal one—it can only be made by the student and their family.

* Americana
* Bulletin
* The Nubian Message
* First Year College Parents' newsletter
* The State of Living & Learning
* Technician