<p>These two groups were created by Tulane students to address concerns over meal price increases (to the extent of some meal plans charging $23 for one entry into Bruff) as well as a complete lack of housing for juniors and seniors. Next year, upperclassmen dorms will be completely converted into sophomore dorms, with the exception of the apartments. The modular units have been dismantled. Select sophomores are now being forced (or allowed) off campus, but are not exempt from meal plans. These are legitimate concerns to accepted students, as well as current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and we would like Tulane to address these issues.</p>
<p>This is interesting, certainly worth looking into. Not trying to minimize or deflect from your concerns, I have not looked into them yet at all. But it does occur to me that the other side of this coin is that Tulane is seeing such a resurgence in popularity among top students that it is seeing much higher retention as well as a larger incoming class (we will know soon if that last is accurate) and therefore housing has gotten tight. So at least if Tulane is having a problem in this area, it is because of positive factors, not negative. Nonetheless, I can see where these concerns can easily be legitimate. Should make for interesting research.</p>
<p>In terms of housing; Tulane is building a new dorm RIGHT NOW finished in 2013. They also have plans for a 2nd new dorm near the Boot. Housing won’t be an issue.</p>
<p>Also with the housing issue: Juniors and seniors are not limited to Aron. This is incorrect. I know seniors in Wall, Warren, Willow, Leadership Village and they’re very happy.</p>
<p>There is no question that unlike some smaller universities and LACs, Tulane cannot and in the near future will not be able to guarantee housing for all 4 years. Even after these 2 new dorms the total number of beds will be somewhere around 4,000 and the number of full time undergrads is about 5,500-6,000. Of course, given the location and nature of Tulane there will always be a significant number of upperclassmen that want to live off campus. But while the situation will improve, as JTulaneD accurately states, it will probably never be 100% guaranteed 4 year or even 3 year housing. Frankly, while I have not researched it, IIRC most of Tulane’s peers do not offer this guarantee either.</p>
<p>JTulaneD- You aren’t reading correctly, or maybe I failed to elaborate. For the next school year Willow, Warren, etc, all the dorms you mentioned, will be converted into sophomore dorms. There is no place left for seniors/juniors.</p>
<p>I did hear that Willow and Warren are being converted to all-sophomore dorms (Willow for sure), but JTulaneD is correct in saying that Wall and Leadership Village are also options for seniors…albeit not substantial ones, since those are both smaller communities of mixed grade levels (Wall mostly being freshmen).</p>
<p>Tulane needs someone to donate a lot of money so they can buy out some part of the area adjacent to the school and build even more dorms. I understand tulanechild’s complaint (I lived on campus all 4 years), but exactly what does he expect Tulane to do? They cannot magically create rooms, and I hope he would agree it is more important to have people live on campus their first two years. They could try and manage the incoming class size down to 1400, but that costs Tulane badly need revenue. One has to be realistic about that aspect and besides, it isn’t that easy to control. Maybe we should buy Loyola…</p>
<p>A frequent option we have encountered while researching other schools is for the university to buy nearby apartment buildings and convert them to suite-style housing. I have no clue about this for Tulane, but NO meaningful on-campus housing after sophomore year is a real disincentive.</p>
<p>How many students who really want to live on campus for 4 years are actually told they can’t? Not guaranteed for 4 years is different than no housing provided.</p>
<p>I think that is the rub, idad. It used to be almost all that wanted to stay on campus could. With the rising size of the entering classes and the higher retention rates, plus the loss of the modular housing (FEMA finally took their stuff back, 2 years after they were apparently supposed to), things are much tighter. The new dorm will help, but I think for another 3-4 years this will still be a problem. Hopefully by then they will have another dorm built.</p>
<p>It used to be that the building at the very edge of campus on Claiborne was married student housing. Does anyone know if that is still there and if so, what it is?</p>
<p>I think another thing that make this problem worse for students is that no one came out at the beginning of the semester and told them this was going to be a problem and they should look seriously for other housing opportunities. The announcement about the FEMA trailers and the housing lottery happened recently. Kids are having to find a place to live next year at the same time they are preparing for finals. This might not be so bad for those who are within driving distance, but for those who were planning on getting on an airplane and returning Aug 21st, this presents a problem. Moving into an apartment not only involves finding one, but furnishing it as well.</p>
<p>Last year when we were at Destination Tulane there were articles in the Hullabaloo about Sophomores who did not receive housing for this year. Many parents asked about this and were assured that it was only those who did not fill out their housing form on time. This year we learned that there is no housing form for sophomores as they are required to live on campus. </p>
<p>Tulane definitely gave the impression that on campus housing was available to all who wanted it as long as they filled out their forms.(including upperclassmen)</p>
<p>Does anyone know if any sophomores were waitlisted for housing this year?</p>
<p>I’m sure many have. Last year about 200 were waitlisted. Some were actually (in the end) “allowed” to live off campus. I haven’t been given the exact numbers this year, but I was one of the two hundred last year. Tulane said it would be alright and even out because “some people wouldn’t be returning for various reasons” and when those dorms opened up we would be placed. However, we students feel this isn’t the safest thing to place a bet on.</p>
<p>As a parent of a former student who lived on campus until 2nd semester Junior year, I understand feeling some concern about housing availability. And I’d absolutely concur that communicating this info EARLY to affected students should have been done.</p>
<p>That said, my S found relatively cheap housing that was even closer than his dorm was to some of his classes. Mostly though, he didn’t have the challenges of vacating at certain times. He (we) also spent much less overall for room and board since he was no longer on a meal plan. So many students are selling used furniture, it turned out to be much less of an issue than I thought. Overall, he really preferred it off campus.</p>
<p>At least when he was in the market, there were many many rentals available. Some more expensive to be sure, but plenty of places that were well priced, convenient, and with a reasonable amount of charm in mostly safe areas. At least there IS alot of alternative housing nearby. With D’s undergraduate school, reasonably priced, CLOSE options were rare.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind my asking, what were the approx cross-streets where your son was living? </p>
<p>I’m trying to figure out if west of campus (upriver, Broadway St side) or east of campus (downriver, Calhoun St side) is more student-friendly and/or more desirable (i.e. safer, closer, better quality, cheaper options, etc).</p>
<p>I’ve heard that north of campus (other side of S Claiborne Ave) is not as popular for off-campus housing, and south of St Charles Ave (surrounding Audubon Park) can be a little too expensive. Is this accurate?</p>
<p>Greatly appreciated if anyone else has comments on this as well.</p>
<p>NYCgrad, S rented an apartment in a house at the corner of Lowerline and Zimpel, a couple short blocks west of Broadway, I think. It was a large house that had 3 apartments in it, I think. His was the largest, shared with 3 others. Each had his own bedroom and the kitchen was surprisingly nice.<br>
The area seemed to have many similar converted homes, but clearly there were also long-term homeowners in the area too. S felt pretty safe in the area. It was a really quick bike ride to the quad or short walk. Great location. It was closer to the Oak street area where there are cafes etc frequented by students. I don’t really know the area well enough to answer the question of whether west of campus (like S) or east of campus is more “student-friendly” though.</p>