U of West Georgia considers Greek Housing

[AGDLynn]

http://www.campusadv.com/campus-grov...ollton-ga.html

Greeks were informed a couple of weeks ago that the university is working with Campus Crest Company to develop apartment style buildings that Greeks can put their letters on. The univ is hoping to build its own village in several years so this is just temporary. Due to WG booming and the university requirement of freshmen having to live on campus, it's not surprising that the sorority dorm may soon be unavailable.

Anyone else deal with Campus Crest? I see according to the website that it is in college towns. but Alpha Gam doesn't have chapters there..yet, lol.

One of the largest concerns is that the price would go from now $1180/semester for 2 semesters to approximately $440 /month for 12 months. It would be difficult for 25+ members of any org to find someone to sublet during the summer. The student would pay the amount directly instead of the current method of each sorority paying for 25 beds (hopefully reimbursed by the member, lol).

There would be a bridge and shuttle service to campus. Each resident would have a parking space and members who don't live there but pay a parlor fee could get keys so they don't have to have a resident to let them in.

UWG needs to add NPC groups but that probably won't happen until there is chapter housing available so the new group can start out on more equal footing.

Some of the fraternities are interested because they don't have houses and others are not because they do.

There are currently 6 BLGO's so they may be able to have at least 1 floor for their own if they can't find enough members/renters.

Each floor is 1200 sq. feet so that's a big meeting room!!

Any thoughts would be appreciated so I can pass them on to the chapter.

A final decision will have to be made in about a month since the apts will be ready for next fall.

[BBelleADPi]

Lynn-I PM you.

[AXiDTrish]

Ok wait....What????

I think I'm confused by your post.....you stated that Campus Crest is developing plans for a Greek village type housing several years from now. Then at the end that they want to decide in the next month to have them ready for fall? I think I am misunderstanding your post...can you clarify?

I also am confused by your statement that Boykin may become unavailable for the sororities. Why? The women are students that would have to be housed somewhere....and they are. They pay via the housing corps to the university to rent the hall...either way UWG is getting the same amount of money no matter what. Also, you know as well as I do that those halls are more well kept than any other building on campus!

I would love to hear where this movement is coming from.... Clower - who is a jerk to his own staff (I know 'cause I was one)? Big Daddy Sethna who thinks Greek Life is useless? (Though he actually mentioned it at Visitation in his speech and that where his money and most loved alumnae are....aka...the Kauffman's big PR pitch....but I always liked Ryan!!! As you can see....this is where I went to school and am quite invested in it!!

Side note: UWG does NOT need another NPC! Not yet, not until recruitment numbers even out...there are too many inconsistancies. If someone doesn't get the royal shaft this year then it might start to prove that an NPC is possible....maybe. But if recruitment follows the pattern it has for the last 4 years, one chapter is going to be hurt.....which totally sucks! From what I was told about 2 weeks ago the sorority that caught it last year (no names mentioned) is still pulling out of the funk...and that's always been a damn, great chapter!!!!

-Trish

[AGDLynn]

1. Sorry for the confusion. WG does intend to build university owned Greek housing but not for a few years. This company has broken ground already and so is looking for the quickest way to fill the space.

2. That's our speculation..that WG would want/need the house for freshmen at some point in the future..how far/near we don't know.. As you know, it's been the story that WG wants us to move out for years (true or not) but never anything dramatic... Guess this is it, lol. I seriously don't think they will kick out next year.

3. If there are not any shenanigans, I think that each chapter should make quota. As discussed in the Rush thread, making quota doesn't mean that the nms will stick around after they pledge. Chapters should go for the type of nm that will strengthen what the chapter already has. Don't go just for numbers.

[FSUZeta]

lynn, a similar offer was made to the florida gulf coast university greek chapters last year, when some student apartments were being built off campus. the girls were all excited until they found out that if zta is on the outside of the building, then they must abide by the rules of the zta national housing corporation(no alcohol, visitation hours, etc.)frankly, as an advisor, i was relieved. one less thing for us grownups to worry about!!

[AGDLynn]

Yep, the sororities would still be held accountable for NPC and individual organization rules.

The Property Advisor says she doesn't want to be House Mother!

[AXiDTrish]

Thanks for the clarification.....I'll be at UWG for Recruitment so I think I'll drive around and see what's changing. The campus is growing so dramatically so quickly...it shocking!

[AGDLynn]

Well..it seems that UWG Foundation has found a possible way to erase several years in the future, lol.

They have hired Capstone Development who conducted meeting with Greek collegiates and advisors for the past 2 days about what we would like/not like. Then the Foundation will hire the actual company to build, which may or not be Capstone.

The potential move-in date is 2008. These will be houses; not apartments. All the same size.

It was such a dramatic change that the 2 reps were: a) NPC Greek themselves) and b) the co. had built Greek villages at other schools. They knew the questions to ask and terms to use, lol. Amy is an Auburn Chi Omega and Mari Ann is a Theta Phi Alpha.

Since the houses will be university-owned, we won't have the same hassles/concerns/liabilities we had with Campus Crest.

Along with the # of bedrooms/bathrooms, washers/dryers, stoves, exterior finishes, etc., they took our concerns about getting the Univ to allow freshmen to take over the unfilled beds so the orgs aren't stuck for 1 -2 semesters, 10 vs 12 mo leases, access keys/cards (free ones for Chapter Advisors!!).

The best parts are that the U can bill the member and they will help us find ways that alumni can contribute to the University Foundation and specify the $$ for the specific chapter! This will be helpful until/lf the tax law bill is enacted.

New houses, new football stadium, new mascot (okay, I'm not thrilled about that one!)...pretty good times coming for little ole West Ga!

[FSUZeta]

that sounds super lynn. hope it all works out as planned.

[AGDLynn]

Yea, they built some houses at FSU but not the Alpha Gam house.

[aopirose]

Lynn, I know that Capstone built the house-style that you are describing at U. of South Alabama. All the houses are pretty much the same because the university wanted a unified look. "Just in case." At Southeastern Louisiana, they built the Greek Village along with the student apartments. These are more like townhouses and the sororities' all sleep about 24. They have goodsized chapter rooms.

[AGDLynn]

I had the pleasure of working on the UWG Greek Housing Steering Committee. This is a BRIEF snapshot of the proposed plan; the original is about 10 pages...the alcohol policy is about 8 pages.

The University of West Georgia has discussed the feasibility of building Greek housing for several years.

Two opportunities have emerged that now make this a meaningful possibility for UWG: First, the University of West Georgia Foundation acquired 30 acres of land adjacent to the campus, and began exploring options for development which could benefit both the Foundation and the University. The location of the land is ideal, as it is easily accessible, near the Campus Center and major academic buildings, but not near residential neighborhoods. ..These models involve universities or foundations financing and building Greek villages, and then renting the housing out to students and organizations to pay for the project.

Steering Committee Recommendation:
The Foundation should work with the University to construct a Greek Village, with the first phase to open in Fall of 2008, using the guidelines outlined in this document. The committee recognizes that the Foundation and University staff need to do a great deal of work to analyze these recommendations and determine if they are financially feasible, as well as to develop the details of design and policy.

1. Build the following to open Fall 2008 – 254 beds:
• 7 20-bed houses
• 3 16-bed houses
• 3 10-bed houses
• 6 6-bed apartments
• Community building

This assumes the addition of one Panhellenic sorority in 2007-2008. UWG is committed to that if the Village is approved.

Our working assumption is that, based on historic and current membership numbers, Panhellenic groups would reside in the 20-bed houses, IFC groups in the 16-bed houses, and IFC or NPHC groups reside in the 10-bed houses and 6-bed apartments. However, that is not a foregone conclusion, and may change in further development of this plan.

Further financial and land analysis may result in recommendations for slightly different numbers in houses. If necessary, the committee may be consulted with further in the Spring.


2. Possible construction in Phase II at a later date– up to 70 beds:
• 1 20-bed house (for new Panhellenic sorority)
• 1 16 or 20-bed house (for IFC fraternity)
• 3 10-bed houses (for IFC or NPHC groups)

Phase Two would depend on enrollment and market demands. Assumptions include: the addition of another Panhellenic sorority and another IFC fraternity, and 3 small groups increasing membership and moving from apartments to houses, thus freeing up 3 apartments for other small groups.

[AGDLynn]

This is the gist of a letter sent to UWG GLO HQs. I'm hitting the highlights.

.....After considerable research, we believe we will be able to open this Village for Fall 2009. .....

Overview of the Project:
• Village projected to open for occupancy at the beginning of Fall 2009
• Seven 20-bed houses, three 16-bed houses, three 10-bed houses, six 6-bed townhouses, and a community center in this phase in phase one (holding 254 students)
• Additional land is available for a second phase (4-5 houses) if Greek system expansion allows for that in the future.
• We anticipate renting the 20-bed houses to Panhellenic sororities (this will require the addition of one sorority for Fall 2009, the 16-bed and 10-bed houses to IFC fraternities, and the 6-bed townhouses to IFC and NPHC organizations.
• Each house will have a large living room/chapter room, a residential kitchen, washer-dryer, and both private and double bedrooms. Baths will be shared by 2-4 people.
• The community building will have a large community area, some smaller meeting/study rooms, an apartment for a Village Manager, and two hotel-type rooms which we can use for visiting chapter consultants and other university guests. The buildings will not have elevators, but first-floor rooms will be fully handicap accessible.
• There will be sufficient, convenient, gated parking for all residents of the Village; we are also adding parking lots across the street for regular student use.

.....
The Village will be managed by a resident manager employed by the University. ......

If a house should become vacant, the university must fill the beds, in order to keep this affordable for all students. We will give the first opportunity to other Greeks to move into the house; if we are unable to fill it that way, we will rent it to other students (most likely some sort of special interest group such as the Honors College or an academic theme house). .....

The University has a second meeting with USG Board staff in February to present a more formal proposal; if they approve at that time, and if our continuing financial due diligence is consistent with our projections, we will then be added to a Board of Regents agenda for approval later this semester, and can break ground this summer....