By Lian Bunny
News Editor
The university had about 350 open beds across campus for the 2014-15 academic year. Next year Francis Hall dorms will be vacant, and Doyle Hall may have some new residents, Jamestown Community College (JCC) students.
In addition to housing changes, Richard Trietley, vice president of student affairs, said the third floor of Plassmann Hall is projected to remain closed for the next school year.
Trietley said all student housing on the second, third and fourth floors of Francis will close for the next two years at least.
This means there will be 158 empty beds in Francis Hall.
According to Trietley, declining enrollment over the last three years created a need to consolidate housing options to save the university money.
“We do not anticipate that the SBU student experience will be negatively affected in any way by the decision to close Francis Hall for student housing,” Trietley said. “We view this as a prudent business decision that will allow us to reallocate valuable resources to other residence halls and student programs. We certainly hope that student housing in Francis Hall will be re-opened in the near future when our overall student enrollment increases.”
Patrick Cary, a junior accounting major, said he was surprised when he heard Francis Hall was closing.
“My initial reaction was that I was shocked,” Cary said. “I haven’t minded living in Francis this year, and I chose to live there mostly due to its location. I eat at the dining hall there on a regular basis, and many of my friends live in townhouses very close to Francis.”
In addition, Trietley said the university is currently talking with JCC to offer housing to up to 38 JCC students.
According to Trietley, 38 JCC students plus one Bonaventure student as a resident assistant would fill all the available beds on the second floor of Doyle Hall. If the agreement is finalized the JCC students would most likely end up there.
“JCC initiated this proposal in an effort to offer safe, affordable housing to JCC students seeking a campus living agreement,” Trietley said. “Currently, JCC does not offer student housing on their Olean campus.”
JCC’s Olean campus is located at 260 N Union St. in Olean, New York.
Trietley said the JCC students would pay the same room and board fee Bonaventure students pay. However, Bonaventure would not provide busing to JCC campus. That would be the responsibility of JCC to coordinate, according to Trietley.
Trietley said he would consider this agreement to be a win-win for both institutions.
“JCC would be able to market a safe, affordable housing option for their incoming JCC Olean students,” Trietley said. “Currently, JCC Olean students who are not from the local area must rent apartments in the city of Olean. On the SBU side, this would be a significant revenue generation opportunity as well as potential transfer recruiting strategy. If these JCC students have a positive experience on our campus then they may decide to enroll at SBU upon graduation from JCC.”
