Officials prep for freshman

By Zac Estrada, News Staff

Despite a raft of changes that has boosted the number of Living and Learning Communities (LLC) and expanded gender-neutral housing, housing officials expect room assignments for incoming freshmen and returning students to go smoothly.

Northeastern’s Assistant Director of Housing Services Tim Touchette spoke Wednesday in front of the Student Government Association (SGA), updating the group on the housing selection process currently underway as the first members of the class of 2016 start submitting housing preferences.

Touchette said even though this fall will be the first time an incoming class will be required to live on campus for both freshman and sophomore years, housing services is working to make the process as seamless as possible and enjoyable through more extensive LLC availability. Students on co-op will continue to be allowed to live off-campus.

“There’s a science behind the LLCs,” Touchette said. “The students are more attentive, more active.”

After speaking with Resident Assistants for the fall term, Touchette said there is going to be a bigger push behind strengthening the LLCs.

Touchette said there are now 20 LLCs, covering both academic and lifestyle interests. Among the newest are Pre-Med and Sustainability and Green Science LLCs.

There are no parameters as to how large an LLC can be, Touchette said. He added there might be one LLC to a building, or multiple ones in the same building.

“It’s all up to what the incoming class wants,” Touchette said. “We won’t know until we see the numbers.”

Nick Martin, vice president of housing services for Resident Student Association (RSA), said the group is working with university administrators to make sure the LLCs are effective. He said RSA will vote in the next couple weeks on recommendations for LLCs, but still doesn’t know how incoming students will respond.

“Because more people are going to be in LLCs there’s a move away from the academic ones,” Martin said. “We don’t know how students are going to fall into them.”

Incoming freshmen apply for their first and second choices for LLCs, or select a third option to decline being part of an LLC.

Part of the housing reform for the fall includes an expansion of gender-neutral housing into apartments with single beds and low occupancy, Touchette said.

“Gender-neutral housing is done by in-person selection,” he said. “Students need to be sure it’s what they want.”

SGA President Ryan Fox asked Touchette if gender-neutral space would expand into freshmen buildings.

“It’s on a case-by-case basis,” Touchette said. “Most of the time it’s going to be in International Village, but the numbers are still very low.”

Martin said the expansion of LLC and gender-neutral programs might encourage more students to eventually stay on campus beyond sophomore year.

“The way the university is developing is into a residential community,” he said. “We need to develop a residential community not just for the freshman halls but the upper-class housing. When you’re in an apartment, it’s easy to stay inside.”

Northeastern Director of Campus Life Operations Ann Marie Regan said even though third-year students will no longer be guaranteed on-campus housing, she doesn’t anticipate an overflow of upper-class students clamoring for rooms.

“We’re not having problems for people who get their deposits in on time,” Regan said. “Our goal is to keep students on campus. We like to keep younger students on campus too, so if you’re a third-year you shouldn’t have problems being placed.”

Touchette said it’s usually a small percentage of students who apply for on-campus housing past their third year.