by RIKKILYNN SHIELDS & JACK MELANSON, Editors
Over spring break, Manhattan College resident students were encouraged to pay a $400 room reservation deposit and fill out the annual housing application. This is the beginning of the on-campus housing process for students looking to dorm during the 2018-2019 school year.
The $400 room deposit must be paid in order to take part in the housing selection process in April. This process also includes registering for Fall 2018 classes, completing a housing application, securing roommates and reserving a specific location.
These locations include Jasper Hall, Lee Hall and Horan Hall for all students, while Overlook Manor is strictly for juniors and seniors, leaving Chrysostom to house freshmen only.
According to a mass-email sent to all resident students on March 5 and March 14, this payment and the housing application are both due on March 30.
“You must first meet your current term financial obligation and then process your secure, online only Room Reservation Deposit via credit card or eCheck at manhattan.edu/deposits. Be sure to select the term Fall 2018,” wrote Residence Life in the email.
For some students, the $400 deposit may not be an issue. However, for others, this cost may come at a time that makes it almost impossible to shell out money for the necessary fee.
Not paying the $400 room deposit on time not only locks students out of the housing lottery in April, but could also lock that student out of course selection and prohibit transcript access. This is all due to a hold that would temporarily be placed on the individual account.
If paid on-time, the process is a smooth one.
“The housing selection process will take place in April,” wrote Residence Life in the same mass email. “Make sure you are ready! The first step is to pay your $400 housing reservation deposit. All students must pay this deposit before participating in the upcoming housing selection process.”
The deposit is to be paid via myHousing portal.
Erin Garcia is a junior at Manhattan College who calls California her permanent home. Garcia has lived on campus since her freshman year, and while she is currently studying abroad in Rome, she plans to return to campus in the fall of 2018.
“I’m excited to start my senior year and hopefully do everything that I have been wanting to do since freshman year. I think studying abroad has made me realize that I need to start making time for things other than school [such as] events in [New York City] that I’ve always wanted to attend but was always stuck in the library doing work. Studying abroad has put into perspective how much I miss when I’m not proactive in things I want to do,” Garcia said.
Living on campus will help Garcia accomplish these goals.
While in Rome, Garcia received the mass-email from Residence Life to pay her $400 room deposit for Fall 2018, a task that was seemingly the last thing on Garcia’s mind. Again, this email was sent to all resident students.
“I understand why we have to pay the $400, it goes to things that are necessary for students who live on campus. However, not every student has the luxury of being able to come up with $400 to pay that deposit, which keeps students from being able to register for classes and being able to select a room to live in,” said Garcia.
This payment can be problematic, according to Garcia.
“I understand that as a resident on campus, we need to pay our dues, but as a student who also works full time, it’s important to be happy in a place that you’ll call home for an entire school year, as well as being able to fulfill all the course requirements,” said Garcia. “It definitely adds unnecessary stress.”
Sophomore Isabel Quinones has lived on campus since her freshman year as well, and is excited to begin her junior year in the fall.
“I’m really excited to be coming back to campus next year,” she said. “I think junior year is going to be a lot of fun and I’ll be able to do new things on campus.”
Quinones also stressed an annoyance with the deposit, but enjoys the comfort that the deposit provides.
“I do find the room deposits sometimes annoying to have to pay out such a large amount but knowing it’ll go to my tuition or room/board makes it worth it,” she said. “Having the security of a room is pretty sweet too.”
Quinones was referring to the fact that this payment is in-fact a deposit, meaning the payment is not an additional charge, but merely a downpayment to room and board fees for the following year.
If the student pays their housing deposit and changes their housing situation, numerous outcomes could occur, according to the Residence Life email.
“If you pay the deposit and your plans to live on-campus ultimately change, the $400 payment can be repurposed toward Fall 2018 tuition and fee charges if you let us know in writing by 4pm on Friday, May 4th (last day of classes). After that date, any change in your plans for any reason will result in the forfeiture of the $400 payment. Please let us know if you have any questions.”
Residence Life added that following them on Twitter would keep students updated on the most up-to-date information.