And since it’s probably more difficult to find off-campus housing for just 1 semester, I’d bet a bunch more juniors just decide to live on campus for which ever semester they are in Troy.
RUN AWAY FROM RPI!! My daughter is now about to start the ARCH program and it is nothing short of ridiculous!! I was told when entered as a Freshman I could get her off campus and help with the insane housing costs that RPI charges. I knew about the ARCH but was told she did not have to live on campus The internal staff has no idea what is happening!! , I have to move her 3 times for this so called “program” that is clear that it is because RPI needs revenue! Move her out of the current 2 weeks later move her into a dorm, then move her out of the dorm wait another 2 weeks and into Fall housing (if there is enough) that will need to also be on campus because who rents for 3 months?? Landords want a full year lease! I am certain that RPI knew that this would be the case!! If I was a student looking at schools I would RUN AWAY from RPI! Also, Ms. Jackson has the system figured out…when the students get to this point of their education they cannot transfer into a different equivalent school because often they will have too many credits completed. So, my daughter is literally STUCK there! Also, they are charging more for the summer housing than I have paid for single room housing and they are being treated as freshmen! They have zero housing options and being told that not all dining halls will be open for the summer. However, we are paying top dollar and charged stupid “Arch activity fees”! Also Troy is not a nice area so off campus housing is hard to find where they are safe.
Also - to add they are not helping the students much finding opportunities, and they have to chose their off semester with zero knowledge of where they may work. Note - not many companies hire fall term, and a 2.5 month co-op because of the holidays. No-one at RPI will share that info with the students! Once they make the choice they are locked in - again a complete scam!! I would ask Ms. Jackson to help justify the cost with her absurd yearly earnings as the highest paid president of all colleges in the US! I do not feel that this school provides what it claims and charges for.
That was just the financial side… this school is ranked in the top 50 most effort and work put toward their studies… now do that with zero break! My daughter will be in school at RPI for 4 straight semesters before “hopefully” finding a co-op. Currently she is holding a 3.9 GPA, not sure how long that can last. Perhaps RPI thinks some stupid Arch activity will keep her motivated? (joke)
Also - don’t try to call and discuss this with anyone at RPI, they do not return your calls nor emails. It is mandatory, that simple. Pull your kid out or pay the bill!
Update: Housing waiver was denied. Arch office had told us that the ability to commute from home would be a strong argument in our favor, but the denial specifically called that out as irrelevant. So much for good advice.
So far, nobody at RPI is willing to say what is supposed to be awesome about the Arch housing requirement, but neither are they willing to be flexible. So it is very frustrating. I would consider organizing a ‘strike’ where at least several dozen parents refused to pay this outrageous housing charge, but I suppose it could backfire and hurt our kids. But maybe a collective presence at the Dean of Student’s office, or somewhere, would at least send a message that this is unacceptable.
I have told everyone that will listen that I am 100% sure this kind of thing is affecting alumni giving, not to mention the choice to go to RPI in the first place. The people with the immediate power to affect our student’s housing situation don’t appear to care.
–SD
@SitcomDad, did you try reaching out to parents on FB, if there is RPI parents group? May be if a number of parents will show up at the dean’s office it will help to change the situation?
@Ultramarine777, thanks for that suggestion. I may try that.
I find I have to amend my previous statement. I have not yet been able to contact or even identify anyone (other than SAJ herself, i suppose) that has any actual power to do anything meaningful. Who at RPI actually makes policy?