Group Project

Group 4: Housing

Group member: Anni Chu, Ziyue Wang, Shuyuan Dong, Shiying Chen, Yuanhao You

On-Campus housing in OSU

1. On-Campus Housing Experience — Shiying Chen

Students hope that every student who chooses to live in the dormitory can feel safe and comfortable. Ohio State University is committed to building and maintaining a diverse community that reflects human diversity and improves opportunities for all. The university is committed to equal opportunities and the elimination of discrimination. Therefore, the dignity and uniqueness of the individual should be recognized and respected no matter what the difference in status is.

1. How to apply

For Fall:

Beginning in mid-March, the student living housing service will email students weekly based on the date on which they are paid into the University. Students will receive an email to their OSU email account detailing how to apply for campus housing. Students will be able to access their contracts online.

For Spring:

Beginning in late October, others similar with fall.

Reference: https://housing.osu.edu/living-on-campus/how-to-apply-incoming-freshman-2019-h-s-grads/

1. Fees & policies

Students should check their university accounting statements before each class begins. Students are responsible to understand the fee structure and obligations and to share fee information with others (such as parents and / or guardians) who may pay on their behalf.

1)  Important Dates

Autumn Semester

Spring Semester

2) Standard Housing Rates

Students Should check their Unversity Statement of Account before each session begins. Fees are due at the same time as tuition.

3) Pay Rent Online

Online rent payment is only available for Regional Campuses. Other students need to pay fees through their University Statement of Account.(Enter through https://buckeyelink.osu.edu)

Reference: https://housing.osu.edu/living-on-campus/fees-contracts-policies/

1. With Roommats

Living on campus, you are only a few steps away from friends, professors, classrooms, laboratories and restaurants.

 

Before Arriving on Campus

By being a member of the residence hall community, student should accept the responsibility to maintain a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, and to abide by the OSU community standards. Before moving into the dormitory, students can get to know each other in advance through social software such as email, which helps them better understand each other.

In the Residence Halls

*  Create and sign a roommate agreement in the early part of the year to prevent potential misunderstandings.

* When you disagree with your roommate, be sure to communicate in time. Because your roommate is someone close to you for a long time.

* If your conflict persists beyond your RA, you may contact your Hall Director.

1. Safty

Campus residence halls are locked 24-hours a day. To gain access, students must use their Buck ID card to open an outside door. Anyone who lives in the residence halls can enter any residence hall with their Buck-ID between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. After 11 p.m., a student must be escorted through any residence hall they do not live in by a resident of that hall.

It is very important for you to… …

* Lock your door, even if just going down the hall.

* Escort your guests; only people who belong in the hall (residents and guests) will be there.

* Keep ground level windows closed.

* Do not leave tempting valuables visible inside your parked car.

* Do not put your address on or attach your BuckID to your key ring.

* Avoid walking alone at night. Always walk in groups of two or more people.

* Always lock your car.

* Use well lit pathways at night.

* Use the campus escort service by calling 292-3322.

* Call 911 if you have a serious emergency.

* Carry your BuckID with you at all times. The residence halls are locked 24 hours a day so you’ll need it to get in.

*Contact RA and Hall Directors if you need help

1. Additionl Living Environments

The dormitories have wireless networks. Public spaces are available for learning and parties, and cable TV services are also available in public areas.

 

2. What kind of housing is aviailable on campus — Anni Chu

(1).     Map

（Source: http://www.osu.edu/map/pdf/map.pdf ）

All the gray area are on campus residence hall. We can tell from the map that most of the residence halls are assembled in the north and south campus.

(2).     Housing fee (source: https://housing.osu.edu/living-on-campus/fees-contracts-policies/standard-housing-rates/ )

According to the university official website, the housing rate can be divided into 4 types: from 1 to 3 and 1 is the highest level. Each level has its own spend.

Rate 1 ($4,329 per semester)

Rate 2 ($3,607 per semester)

Rate 2A ($3,491 per semester)

Rate 3 ($3,371 per semester)

(3).     South campus

1. a)Morrison Tower
2. Address: 196 West 11th Ave.
3. 
4. ⬆️double room
5. 

iii.           ⬆️4 suite

1. b)Sibert Hall
2. Address: 184 West 11th Ave.
3. 
4. ⬆️double room
5. c)Bradley Hall
6. Address: 221 West 12th Avenue
7. 

(4).     North campus

1. a)Jones tower
2. Address: 123 W. Lane Ave
3. Official website: http://housing.osu.edu/roomsearch/jones-tower
4. 

iii.           ⬆️single room

1. 
2. ⬆️double room
3. b)Lawrence Tower
4. Address: 328 West Lane Avenue
5. 
6. ⬆️single room
7. 

iii.           ⬆️double room

1. suite
2. c)Taylor Tower
3. Address：55 W. Lane Ave
4. 
5. ⬆️double room
6. d)Scott house
7. Address： 160 West Woodruff Avenue
8. 
9. ⬆️single room
10. 

iii.           ⬆️double room

1. e)Bowen House (source: http://housing.osu.edu/roomsearch/bowen-house)
2. Address：2125 N. High Street
3. 
4. ⬆️2/rm in 4-rm suite
5. f)Drackett Tower （source: http://housing.osu.edu/roomsearch/drackett-tower）
6. Address：191 W. Lane Avenue
7. 
8. ⬆️4suite
9. 

iii.           ⬆️3 suite

5. West campus
6. a)Lincoln House
7. Lincoln House and Morrill tower has near the same layout of room.
8. b)Morrill Tower
9. Address: 1900 Cannon Dr.
10. 
11. ⬆️single room
12. 

iii.           ⬆️double room

1. Other resources that can view the real view of MT:
2. http://on.bubb.li/345651au26b4o2557n5ghsx/
3. http://on.bubb.li/345651a0fcwkrcvvqy8unck/

#All detailed information about the residence hall can be founded at: http://housing.osu.edu/roomsearch/

(6).     Conclusion

Living on campus have certain benefits. Firstly, compared to live off campus, On campus residence hall nearer to the academic building. This means students need less time to go to the class every day. For me, this is a really important thing because it is too cold in winter. Secondly, Living on campus can help students make more friends. We all have Room Assistances (aka, RA) and their duty is to let students better fit into the university and American Cultures. They are really helpful for international students just like me. When I first came to America, I got really nervous and unfamiliar to everything. My RA really helps me a lot! He told me how to distinguish trash is recycle and deal some problems between me and my roommate. Thirdly, living on campus also can enrich students social life. There are so many great resources on campus. For example, students organizations, clubs and RPAC’s courses. All these things are literally around students. If you want to join, you will always have chances to do it. However, if you live off campus, maybe you can’t get so near to the resources.

 

On the other hand, living off campus have some undeniable advantages too! First of all, it is cheaper than on campus. The reason is that the living on campus fee not only include residence hall spending, but also contains meal plans. So, living off campus can have lower rent and choose cheaper meal plans. Also, you can have more personal space living off campus. You can have your own room, bathroom and kitchen and you don’t need to share space to other people. Although some students still shared rent with others, there should be less students shared it. Have you own room means you can sleep whenever you want and not need to worry about disturb your roommate. My roommate sleep early everyday so sometimes I have to compromise with her. Now, I shared the bathroom with all other girls on the same floor which is around 20 girls. Thus, the bathroom gets full on 8:30am and 11:30pm. Having my own kitchen really attracts me because I love to cook myself. I live in the 4th floor but the public kitchen is at the 1st floor. This design brings me a lot of trouble when I want to cook for myself.

 

All in all, living on campus is a Double-edged sword, it has some advantages but at the same time, has some disadvantages. Whether live on campus should be decided by students themselves.

 

3. Off-Campus housing in OSU – Yuanhao You

Sometimes, due to many reasons such as disturbing roommates, limited personal space, unreasonably high prices, people may not feel conformable when they live on the campus. According to Ohio State University students’ life department, “32 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing, and 68 percent of students live off-campus.” In this kind of circumstance, living off-campus will be an excellent option.

 

What kind of students can live off-campus

Based on the requirement provided on the OSU housing department, not all students have the right to live outside the campus. Theoretically, all students must live at a university for two years. However, some of the exemption exists. As the housing department illustrates, “Requests for exemption from the Housing Regulation must be submitted on the forms provided by University Housing and may be approved for one of the following reasons: (1) Actual local residence is with parents or close relatives or legal guardian. (2) The actual local residence is in a social fraternity or sorority chapter house maintained exclusively for its members. (3) The actual local residence is in a scholarship or academic, residential living unit not a part of the residence hall system, but which has been recognized by University Housing.” Also, some particular excuse may render students from Compliance. Those are including “Medical necessity certified by a physician and Student Health Services, subject to the approval of University Housing. Financial hardship, supported by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). And Special hardship, documenting severe and compelling circumstances that exist before the initial semester or session of enrollment.”

 

(2) Type of house

There are two kinds of houses available to students who have a different requirement. For a group of students (3-5 people) who wants to live together villa may be a suitable choice. Since the most of villa have more than three separate bedrooms, one living-room, one kitchen, one garage which can at least contain two cars, those students will not only enjoy the convenience including sharing food, taking roommates car to campus, living together bring to, but also having their privacy. For those students who want to live alone or just living with one of their friends, instead of the villa, the apartment will be the best option. People will not be impacted by the roommate’s different schedules. People will have more space for themselves. Furthermore, most of the apartments have their facilities, such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and a safe security system.

 

(3) How to choose a place for Off-campus housing

The priority for students to select a location for accommodation will be distance. Within 7-10 miles of campus, people can drive to most of in campus garage( 11th Garage, Aprs Garages, Union Garage) in 10-15 minutes. If Students do not have a car, living within a mile of campus may be the best option. They will walk like 10-30 minutes to most of the classroom. Safety is essential. The area near the middle of high-street(near Chase Bank) has a relatively high crime rate in the whole Columbus city. Therefore it is not suitable for students to live unless they like to go to parties or bars. Based on statistics data from neighborhood scout, upper Arlington will be the best option for students live off-campus, which is not too expensive to afford(average for a room is around 700$) and has the lowest crime rate.

 

All in all, living off-campus is a good option for students, dong that people will learn how to independent and plan their own life. Also, it can save a bunch of money.

 

 

 

4. How do I find an apartment?

There are many ways we can find accommodation off campus.

(1).    Rent an apartment through the app

 

First of all, I know a good app, called Uhomes.

 

It is the development of an app in China, we in this app can be found through the staff housing, have Chinese service all the way, it is convenient for Chinese students, the app also supports the function of online inspection at the same time, allows us to phone you know style and decoration of the house.

 

(2). Through senior experience of senior students

In addition, we can ask senior students senior for information. They have the experience of accommodation outside and can choose the house that suits their needs through their Suggestions. If you are still worried, you can go to the office of the apartment where you live off campus and ask the staff to take you for a field trip, so that you can know the environment and the facilities of the apartment more intuitively. However, this also has some disadvantages, that is, it will waste time.

 

(3). Introduction of housing agent

At the same time, we can also look for some local housing agents, who will have a lot of apartment accommodation information, so that we can have a lot of choices in the first time, by looking at the pictures to evaluate the accommodation environment. Another advantage of finding a local agent is the ability to negotiate rent with the owner, which can reduce the cost of housing.

 

(4). Sublease information of social software

We can also pay attention to some off-campus apartment sublease information, generally these sublease housing will be compared to the price of the direct source of housing relatively much cheaper. However, in this case, we need to get clear about the previous rental contract and rental matters with the previous tenants, so as to cause unnecessary trouble and bring inconvenience to our accommodation.

 

5. Can OSU help me if there is problem with my off-campus housing? – Ziyue Wang

It is fantastic for students to live off-campus, however, there are so many other problems that you have to concern, for example, what if I/landlord break the rule. What kind of punish will I or he will get? Who will be responsible for it? etc. You must be really concerned about that! Fortunately, we have Student Legal Services! No matter what kind of questions you have, you can have access to their website

https://offcampus.osu.edu/off-campus-living/common-housing-issues/ and contact with them!

Here are several common issues that you may meet with.

• How to sublet?

It is quite usual for some students to sublet their houses, especially for those who graduate in advance, it is a big question. Normally, students have to sign an agreement that they will live at least for one year, they can’t change their mind, otherwise, even if they move out, the landlord still have right to charge the rent from their card. The great news is that, OSU Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services can them to sublease and provide resources for them to sublease their houses. Here is the specific process: visit the https://offcampus.osu.edu/secure/students/default.aspx website.You will need OSU credentials to log in and post a sublet advertisement.

•  What if I have a noisy neighbor?

At first,you can have a talk with your neighbor.Most of people are nice and they will pay more attention to keep quite.If this doesn’t work,you need to contact your landlord immediately so that they will be aware of the situation.Then, they will help you to warn that neighbor or change an another room for you.

• What should I do if I found broken furniture during my rent period?

At the beginning, the first day you move into your new house,you have to check all the furniture.After moving in,you find something is broken,you need to email your landlord and illustrate the condition.Then the landlord will ask other specialist to repair it in 30 days.If after 30 days of receiving the repair request in writing,the landlord will not fix it any more,at that time,you can contact https://studentlegal.osu.edu/civil-matters/campus-housing

• what if your landlord have sexually harassed you or discriminated against you,what should I do?

If you feel you have been sexually harassed by your property manager or his/her employee, immediately contact Student Legal Services.If you feel your property manager or their employee has discriminated against you, immediately contact Student Legal Services.https://studentlegal.osu.edu/civil-matters/campus-housing They will help you to employ a lawyer to protect you.

•  what if my landlord sale the house you are living in?

During your lease term, your landlord might sell the house you are living in. Even if you get a new property manager mid-year, your current lease still remains,which means that you still have to pay the rest rent money.At that time you need to contact Student Legal Serviceshttps://studentlegal.osu.edu/civil-matters/campus-housing