Question about Non-Air Conditioned Dorms

<p>I've got an odd question about living in the non-air conditioned dorms at JMU.</p>

<p>We were just visiting at the campus yesterday at the CHOICES session and saw the different types of dorms. I realize that most, if not all campuses, have a mix of air conditioned/non-airconditioned dorms and it's not a big deal. My daughter attends another college and she has lived in both. She is about 4 hours away and I do believe that it is a bit cooler where she is but the non-airconditioned dorms can get quite bad, according to her. But heat is not my concern.</p>

<p>So my son is considering JMU, and most of the dorms do not have AC. He's got SEVERE allergies and when they get bad, they trigger asthma. He's been under a doctor's care since he was about six years old for this so I do have documentation. Even with lots of meds, his allergies still get to him for several weeks in the spring (like now) and a few weeks in the fall (September timeframe).</p>

<p>My concern is sleeping with open windows and having pollen in the rooms because of lack of AC. I guess I wonder how long this goes on there during each season. Are we talking about just 2 weeks here and there, or is it more long term? I'm just not familiar enough with the area to know easily if it cools down at night. I know in the DC area the need for AC goes on through a good part of April (I'm using mine now) and most of August/Sept.</p>

<p>I hate, hate, hate to ask for special accommodations and I would just like him to go through the regular channels like everyone else does, but I am a little concerned that he's going to have some rough times and possibly end up with an asthma flare.</p>

<p>If you know anything about how long the students in those non-AC dorms have to deal with open windows, I'd appreciate it.</p>

<p>Honestly we are in the 21st century. My children would not apply to any school without a/c in dorms or at least the ability to place a window a/c unit.
I went to medical school in the early eighties in Buffalo, NY and a/c was necessary in Sept and June. Colleges in the South are much warmer in late April and May as well as the fall than Buffalo.
A/C is a must since hot humid air is uncomfortable and unhealthy. My gosh we are already complacent enough paying 50k or more. What are we paying for?</p>

<p>What you are describing sounds like a good reason to request a special exception.</p>

<p>I live in Harrisonburg and other than in the middle of summer rarely run my AC. However, I prefer to have the windows open and run a fan. I am originally from northern New England where most homes do not have central air conditioning, and you just deal with a few weeks of being hotter than you would like to be each summer. So, I guess it is all about what you are used to.</p>

<p>I would think that in non-air conditioned dorms students would likely want to have the windows open during late- August through September and again in April… depending on the year possibly in March. I am not sure when the air conditioning is run in the air conditioned dorms?</p>

<p>Good questions to ask the housing office and to request an air conditioned dorm. </p>

<p>Another question to ask may be if they have any plans to renovate the non-air conditioned dorms and retrofit with central air.</p>

<p>A bit off topic… and somewhat irrelevant to the air conditioning issue… but, just for those who might stumble upon this thread in the future. JMU tuition/room/board is currently about $16000 for IS and $28000 for OOS, not $50000. </p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies. </p>

<p>Oura54–I hear what you’re saying but the reality is that many dorms in the Virginia/Maryland area do not have AC. The schools I am looking at are in the mountainous areas where there can be a very nice evening breeze versus in the suburban area DC where there aren’t those cool nights and lower humidity. JMU is just so “relatively” close to where I already live (2 hours) that I find it hard to believe he’s going to only have a short period of open windows. I would venture to say that most college residence halls are moving in the direction of all AC but they’re not there yet.</p>

<p>KatMT–Thank you. I straddle that line of trying not to be “that parent” with the exceptions!! I have an older child who needs nothing but my son has really struggled with allergies. He doesn’t stop doing activities because of them but his one respite from them is his home. We have all hardwoods and we never open the windows in the house because of his allergies. I don’t think it would kill him to live in a non-AC dorm but I’d hate to have the first 6 weeks of his freshman experience marred by constant wheezing, coughing, and lack of sleep.</p>

<p>Guess the best thing to do is to discuss it with his doctor.</p>

<p>Yes, ask for the exception.</p>

<p>As for me, I can’t remember it being an issue. I think it’s different when you’re 18.</p>

<p>I don’t know about every dorm, but the Village which is centrally located doesn’t have AC, whereas, the Skyline area, which is on the Eastern point of campus does have AC. So, there’s a trade off.</p>

<p>There are quite a number of dorms with a/c. Is your son going honors or learning community? If so, those dorms will have AC. Also, if he is a science or math major, living on east side of campus would be a good idea and those are the new dorms with AC. I can tell you, since my DD has horrible allergies, he does not want to be in a dorm without AC. JMU is a beautiful campus, but with all that beauty comes lots and lots and lots of pollen. Request the exception.</p>

<p>I currently live in a non-a/c dorm at JMU, and the windows are open almost all year round-even in the winter because the older dorms do not have controlled heat so it can be very hot. Concerning allergies, there is a lot of pollen here (there’s a sheet of yellow pollen dust on my window right now) and a lot of wind. Also, JMU plants a lot of different trees/ flowers so there is that to consider too. I wouldn’t worry about calling JMU Res Life (ORL) and asking about the issue. They are extremely friendly and want to make every JMU student’s experience great-especially freshman year-so they shouldn’t be bothered if you ask them questions regarding dorm placement. Your son’s one book should tell you which dorms have air conditioning and which do not.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. We got my son’s pulmonologist to complete the forms and I sent them into the “Special Requests for Housing” office today. We shall see. He did request A/C dorms as he top choices.</p>

<p>He’s also going to be majoring in Engineering (not honors) so not sure where most of his classes will be or where the tend to house the engineering majors.</p>