The process formerly known as SHOP
Lara Eucalano
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: News
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Instead of SHOP, students will now select their housing using the "Continuing Student Housing Selection Process," or CSHSP.
CSHSP still assigns students random lottery numbers like SHOP, but the selection process is much different.
The ulcer-inducing SHOP process involved several hundred students crowding into a JMS pit together, clutching the arms of their soon-to-be-roommates and hoping for the best.
Using the "Continuing Student Housing Selection Process," students must apply individually or in groups for their housing assignments.
Results will be posted a day or two later. If you got the housing assignment you wanted, great! If not, simply re-apply for a different housing assignment.
For some students, the new process is considerably more convenient.
Students can simply fill out an application at their leisure instead of planning for SHOP night weeks in advance.
Most of us arrived at SHOP prepared with a rooming Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C because you just never know.
However, in spite of the stress, it was nice to walk into JMS and walk out an hour later knowing your room assignment.
Jeremy Siefken, Burke Hall Director, says the housing selection process has changed for a variety of reasons.
First, students have requested that REH develop a more desirable, less stressful housing process.
"SHOP nights in the past," says Siefken, "were high stress, and students had to regroup on the spot if their first choice in housing was picked over before their lottery number was called. This resulted in multiple issues--from a student choosing a student they didn't know to live with, to people so frustrated they would leave SHOP without a housing assignment."
Siefken points out that the new housing application process will give students time to regroup if they are not granted their first choice.
Second, the new housing process is arranged so that if you apply for housing at your first choice and miss out, you can still apply for your second and third choices.
Seifken provides this example: "If your first living choice was the new apartments and you weren't placed there, you didn't miss out on the opportunity to live in the Carriage House, your second choice, because the application deadlines and assignments are grouped differently."
With the new application process, there will be no missed opportunities.
Allowing students to select housing via application also allows REH to gauge where students really want to live.
Access to this data will help REH decide how many students are able to live off campus in the future.
Student reactions to the new process are varied. "I'm not a fan," says Abbey Vorpagel '11. "I'd rather just get it done with in one night and not have to worry about filling out numerous applications for the different housing options."
On the other hand, Lauren Lathers '11 says, "Overall, I think the process will work out well."
The general consensus from students: Let's see how this process works out. Then we can decide whether or not it's an improvement.
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