Hartford addresses 'U' housing difficulties

Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford delivered the first of a three-part presentation on University housing at yesterday's meeting of the University Board of Regents, and she admitted that the University must make some changes.

Hartford

Hartford said yesterday the University increases housing costs each year, but the money is just used to maintain the halls, rather than to make changes and improvements.

"We know we are falling a little behind in these areas," Hartford said. "We have some major challenges ahead of us."

After the board approved a housing rate increase in February, it requested to see data ensuring that the annual increases are necessary. The board requested assurance that the most efficient manner of improvement and maintenance in the residence halls was being implemented.

Hartford also said the University may not be housing students adequately. "It's probably not a wise idea to put three persons in a room that was made for two," Hartford said.

Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills) said the residence halls currently do not provide students with an enriching learning environment.

"I believe the residence halls are too crowded and too expensive, period," Deitch said. "We put three people in a room built for two people who brought a pillow and a bag. Now it's computers and microwaves.

"If we're serious about improving undergraduate education, it seems to me the residence halls may or may not be conducive to learning and growth experience," Deitch said.

However, University President Lee Bollinger said the University is not alone in its shortages of space.

"The spacing fact is a reality of every major university," Bollinger said. "Each university has three people in rooms built for two people. This is just the reality. I would doubt that the use of the dorm space here is any worse than that at any other major institutions."

The regents asked for further information regarding possibilites of privatization and cost reduction. Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) said the report did not include all the information she was anticipating.

"We need to think out of the box," Newman said. "I want to hear creativity. I want to hear ideas. I know we have them. I'm sure if you think about it there are things you could do that are not being done anywhere else."

Bollinger agreed that the option of privatization in housing may be valid and cost efficient.

"This is the regents' first effort to start to get data," Bollinger said. "I think we do need to get more data on private ownership versus University maintenance. We certainly can look at private institutions."

Hartford said the University has already begun to look at peer institutions as comparisons and possible models for improvement.

"We have begun to ask some peer institutions where they are in this area," Hartford said. "This is something that has not been asked much before. We asked eight of them, and only (Pennsylvania State University) answered ... and they are in about the same place as us."

Newman said steps should be taken to bring closure to the housing issue.

"This is something that can't keep getting dragged out," Newman said. "We want to make sure we remain competitive and do the right things to take us into the next century."

Hartford promised to bring the board a more extensive report that examines the issue of privatization.

"I'm hearing you say you want a good extensive presentation that includes benchmarking, but don't let the benchmarking constrain our thinking," Hartford said.

04-18-97