R.2 Regarding Graduate and Professional Student Housing at Schuyler House, Thurston Court, and Hasbrouck Apartments

Whereas the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA) passed on October 16, 2006 “R.3: A Resolution Regarding Undergraduate Housing at the Hasbrouck Apartment Complex” expressing disapproval of the placement of 30 undergraduate and transfer students at Hasbrouck Apartments, and the return of Hasbrouck to graduate-only housing by no later than Fall 2008; and

Whereas the Vision Statement for a Graduate Community Initiative presented by the GPSA to the Cornell Board of Trustees and administration on March 12, 2007 clearly states that housing for graduate students is a chronic problem which, if improved, could help attract graduate students to Cornell and foster community integration during their time here; and

Whereas according to the Spring 2007 Graduate and Professional Student Housing Survey, 17.7% of graduate and professional students noted that they would like to move from off-campus to on-campus housing, if affordable; and

Whereas Thurston Court was reopened to graduate and professional students in Fall 2008 to partially satisfy demand for studio and one-bedroom units; and

Whereas in Fall 2008, undergraduate housing supply was insufficient to meet demand, despite completion of the Residential Initiative by this time; and

Whereas the GPSA compromised with Campus Life to allow undergraduate transfer students to live in Schuyler House in order to satisfy the need for more campus housing for transfer students, provided that Campus Life do its best to put “non-traditional,” older transfers in Schuyler and keep Hasbrouck Apartments for graduate students; and

Whereas 53 units at Hasbrouck remain vacant in Fall 2008, but there were more than 100 graduate students turned away from campus housing because they requested studio or one-bedroom apartments, which were demanded beyond supply;

Be it therefore resolved that the GPSA maintains a compromise with Campus Life to allow transfer students to be housed at Schuyler House in order to satisfy demand; and

Be it further resolved that the GPSA maintains a stance that Thurston Court and Hasbrouck Apartments be for graduate and professional students only, given the different life experiences and needs of these two populations; and

Be it further resolved that the GPSA supports the drafting of Hasbrouck contracts such that two non-related graduate/professional students may share a two-bedroom unit if these units are not first filled by families; and

Be it further resolved that the GPSA also supports the reconfiguration of Hasbrouck two-bedroom units into one-bedroom + study units, in an effort to meet graduate/professional student demand for one-bedroom units and fill vacancies; and

Be it further resolved that Campus Life, when modeling rates for these new configurations and contracts, be mindful of making on-campus housing affordable for graduate and professional students, given the message portrayed in the Graduate and Professional Student Housing Survey of Spring 2007; and

Be it further resolved that the GPSA will help to advertise the new configurations and contracts available at Hasbrouck Apartments; and

Be it further resolved that the GPSA will work with Campus Life through the Campus Life Master Plan focus groups to map out future renovation of on-campus graduate/professional student housing; and

Be it finally resolved that this resolution be circulated to Susan Murphy, Vice President of Student and Academic Services; LeNorman Strong, Assistant Vice President and Director of Campus Life; Kent Hubbell, Dean of Students; Ellen Gainor, Interim Dean of the Graduate School; Joseph Burke, Director of Residential Programs; and Philip McPheron, Director of Planning and Special Programs.

Respectfully submitted,

Deondra Rose GPSA Vice President for Operations

Nick Brideau GCI Housing Subcommittee, GPSA representative University Neighborhood Council, graduate student representative

Michelle Leinfelder GPSA President