Staying Connected: A Newsletter for First Year Students

Increase Academic Success by Living On-Campus Next Year (and it’s not too late to sign up!)
By John Buck, Associate Dean of Students

At this time of year, many students begin giving more serious thought to where they will live for the following academic year. Many students choose not to sign up for on-campus housing in the hopes that they can make plans to live with friends off-campus; often these plans fall through and students find themselves without housing for the upcoming year. If your son or daughter has not signed a contract or lease to live on campus next year, it’s not too late! I’d like to take this opportunity to provide some information about our on-campus housing options so that you can assist them as they make plans for next year.

All on campus students will receive a form when they return indicating a sign up time that will occur the week of February 12th 2006. The order of time slots is determined by credit hours so typically seniors will go first then juniors and so on. At their allotted sign up time, they will be able to choose with whom and where they want to live next year. In addition, they will sign their new contract/lease at that time securing the space for the following year. You can find more information including room layouts and dimensions online at www.webster.edu/housing. Below you will find projected rate information for next year.

Since they will be able to sign up with their friends at this time, students should start having conversations very soon about who they want to live with and where. The boxes below outline the choices within East Hall, Loretto Hall, and the Webster Village Apartments and their projected rates. We anticipate rate increases each year and those will be confirmed later in the spring (historically, they have increased by approximately 4-5%). If your student does not have a roommate preference, we will have them complete an information sheet that will assist us in roommate matching.

As a reminder, current first year freshmen beyond a 35 mile radius of campus are required to live on campus their second college year as well. As you may already know, research shows that on-campus students have better grades, take more units, and are more likely to persist through to graduation - all national trends that occur with our students at Webster as well. Last year at Webster, 85% of our campus residents returned for their sophomore year compared to 65% of commuter students. We hope to continue playing an important role in the success of your student at Webster University next year.

We look forward to your student being part of an experience that enhances their academic and social development. Please let us know if we can assist in any way by emailing us at housing@webster.edu or calling 314-246-HOME (4663).

Residence Halls
East Hall is one of our two new residence halls. In East Hall students can choose from a single room in a four-bedroom suite, or a double room in a three-bedroom suite. Each of these suites has two bathrooms that will be shared by four to six residents.

Students in Loretto Hall live in double bedroom suites; four residents share one bathroom.

Both residence halls offer kitchenettes and community lounges. East Hall provides study lounges on each floor.

Residence Halls Projected Semester Rates

Loretto Hall Double $1,972

East Hall Double $2,392

East Hall Single $2,704

Meal Plans* Anticipated Rates

A: 10 meals/wk + 50 pts $1,712 per semester

B: 23 meals/wk + 25 pts $2,056 per semester

C: 180 meals/sem + 75 pts $1,778 per semester

D: 100 meals/sem + 175 pts $1,643 per semester

*All residence hall students are required to purchase meal plans.
Webster Village Apartments
Students in the Webster Village Apartments can choose to live in 2-bedroom, 4-bedroom, or efficiency apartments.

The following amenities are included in the cost of living in the Webster Village Apartments:

Cable TV, local telephone, ethernet
Basic utilities (residents pay electricity)
Parking Permit for WVA lot
Use of Clubhouse and pool

Apartment Type	Anticipated Rates Cost of 9-Month Lease
4- Bedroom	$5,265.00 ($585 monthly)
2- Bedroom	$6,300.00 ($700 monthly)
Efficiency	$8,190.00 ($910 monthly)
*Rates listed are for the entire academic year. Discounts apply for 12-month leases.