(06-11-2020 09:10 AM)emu steve Wrote:  https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/06/single-rooms-for-students-guaranteed-at-eastern-michigan-university-for-fall-semester.html

"EMU is the only public university in Michigan to offer a single room to everyone who wants one with the “EMU Single Room Guarantee,” the university stated in a news release. Students who do wish to have a roommate also will have that option, officials said."


Good move by EMU.

EMU continues to make really good moves. Very good leadership. I'm thinking of the college of engineering, moving the school of business back on campus, the new health facility and partnership with St. Joes, SAPC, buying the land off of N. Huron which can be developed or sold in the future.

And a good student-friendly move for on campus housing during the pandemic.

(06-11-2020 08:16 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  I would love to say this is a great idea, but that assessment will be made in the future. The fixed cost of a dorm room are akin to those of a hotel room or an airplane seat, discounting a dorm bed to 50% certainly will have a negative return on investment. When I went to EMU, I wanted roommates, the more the merrier.

(06-12-2020 08:48 AM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:16 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  I would love to say this is a great idea, but that assessment will be made in the future. The fixed cost of a dorm room are akin to those of a hotel room or an airplane seat, discounting a dorm bed to 50% certainly will have a negative return on investment. When I went to EMU, I wanted roommates, the more the merrier.

I agree with your concerns monetarily, Jerry, but I think this is the key part: "In order to make the guarantee, the university will reopen two residence halls — Phelps and Buell. Those dorms had been scheduled to be used as swing space while construction went on in other parts of campus, but the pandemic slowdown has affected construction plans."

These rooms were not planned to be used, so rather than generating 0 revenue, they will at least re-coop some operating expenses. Plus, in my opinion, when a student lives on campus they are more likely to stay in school and build a connection with the EMU "community." (i.e. consistent tuition dollars plus a better connected alumnus, who might donate or pay money for sports tickets). And like you said, I bet many students will still want roommates anyway.

(06-12-2020 10:25 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-12-2020 08:48 AM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(06-11-2020 08:16 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  I would love to say this is a great idea, but that assessment will be made in the future. The fixed cost of a dorm room are akin to those of a hotel room or an airplane seat, discounting a dorm bed to 50% certainly will have a negative return on investment. When I went to EMU, I wanted roommates, the more the merrier.

I agree with your concerns monetarily, Jerry, but I think this is the key part: "In order to make the guarantee, the university will reopen two residence halls — Phelps and Buell. Those dorms had been scheduled to be used as swing space while construction went on in other parts of campus, but the pandemic slowdown has affected construction plans."

These rooms were not planned to be used, so rather than generating 0 revenue, they will at least re-coop some operating expenses. Plus, in my opinion, when a student lives on campus they are more likely to stay in school and build a connection with the EMU "community." (i.e. consistent tuition dollars plus a better connected alumnus, who might donate or pay money for sports tickets). And like you said, I bet many students will still want roommates anyway.

Agree with you Frank.

This appears to be beautifully thought through and somewhat fortuitous that two residence halls are available for this 'swing purpose.'

I'll repeat a point I've suggested before, Wayne State is an excellent, largely commuter college. If someone doesn't want to live on or near campus (and they are from metro Detroit) they can take a short(er) commute to WSU.

And I'd love to know the know of the number of Washtenaw County students who go to say CMU, GVSU, WMU, etc. instead of staying at home and going to EMU (as a commuter student).