We toured and like the college very much. My daughter will apply for Fall 2020. The only thing we didn’t like was the dorms. They appear drab, old, lack a/c, and the one we saw had a depressing basement lounge room. The guide hinted that a/c may be coming to the dorms in the near future. So what is the story with that? I also read about mold conditions in some dorms. Might there be dorm improvements by fall 2020?
Freshmen dorms are the pits… they improve for upperclassmen. Mold is a problem, as many do not have a/c and in that hot humid environment, mold can grow. The students take it in stride, and see it as a bonding “we all suffer our first year” experience.
Students who have respiratory issues will have problems if there is a mold problem. Can’t exactly “take it in stride” if mold spores cause breathing problems. Have you come across that?
Students with health issues like that are allowed window unit air conditioners. Their rooms become gathering places!
My daughter is a current freshman and her dorm is one of the ones without air conditioning. It was a particularly hot September. She definitely complained about the heat, but has had a fantastic freshman year, so I agree with the previous post. The students handle it fine.
I meant they take the crummy dorms in stride, not necessarily the mold. Active mold (along with insects and other problems) is addressed with Res Life Facilities, and they do what they can to remediate. As Prodresse said, students with medical issues can petition to have a window unit installed; you have to provide medical documentation.
Alum from many years ago, and I recently toured with my DD. My freshman dorm looked unchanged. I had a waiver due to medical issues and was allowed to supply my own window a/c unit. Definitely made me popular! Our guide did not mention a/c coming.
Some freshman dorms do have air conditioning. Monroe Hall, where Monroe Scholars live, does not. They are not required to live there, but most do, and feel it’s a worthwhile trade-off.