CUA Changes Living Requirements for Class of 2023
Image Courtesy of Catholic University Communications
By Angela Hickey
Many Catholic University students are outraged after a recent email informed students that the rising sophomores and juniors are now required to live in on-campus housing for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Last semester, the housing policy only required the three-year living requirement for the Class of 2024. But, in an email sent out by the Office of Housing Services announcing the beginning of the 2021-22 housing selection process, juniors were upset to learn that they will be required to live on campus for three years.
Many speculated just where they would be housing all of these students who are now required to live on campus. With COVID-19 restrictions keeping dorms limited, and with the demolishing of Magner dorm in Centennial Village, students are concerned about how they will all fit on campus.
But, for those who have outstanding circumstances, students are able to submit a Residency Exemption Request in order to opt-out of living on campus. Students who are married, who have a disability/medical need, have an ongoing off-campus lease, or financial hardship, can submit a request by March 15, 2021. However, requests can be submitted no later than July 1 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester. Students who do not meet the submission deadline may be charged for housing.
Students are still angered by the lack of information provided by the school, prompting the creation of a petition for the Class of 2023 to live off-campus if they so choose.
“The Catholic University of America has reneged on their promise to CUA students in the class of 2023 by announcing rising Juniors will only be allowed to live on-campus for the 2021-2022 school year unless already living off-campus,” stated the petition.
Students believe that one reason that this new decision was made so suddenly is due to the fact that the school needs to regain profit lost due to COVID-19.
“Remember, this is the same school that denied the class of 2023 access to on-campus housing, allowing freshmen instead, forcing many into off-campus housing. They now argue that the class of 2023 students, who were expecting to live off-campus in accordance with what they were told by the university, to come back pay their overpriced meal plan and room & board fees. Once again this is another decision made by the university without any consideration for the opinions of those this [affects]”, stated the petition.
Class of 2023 SGA Senator Maura Schlee, has been advocating for the class of 2023 and promoting the petition, encouraging all students to sign. Schlee also brought forth a Resolution to Allow the Class of 2023 More Freedom in Housing, which hit the floor on March 8th.
“…I am appalled by the University’s sudden change in the housing policy for our class,” Schlee stated. “I am in the process of advocating for a change in this decision by the administration and hope to bring a resolution to the floor of the Senate at next Monday’s meeting. I ask that everyone sign the petition and show up to public comment when this is brought to the floor, as we need to show that the Class of 2023 is upset and will not stand for this. I am doing everything in my power to make sure the needs of my class are being heard and taken into consideration.”
So far the petition has gained 274 signatures out of the desired 500, with numbers increasing with each passing day. Students have commented on their growing anger and disbelief over the situation, expressing how the rising juniors have felt forgotten and been treated poorly during this past year.
The Office of the President of Catholic University and the CUA Housing Office did not return a request for comment.
