Plans for on-campus housing development are alive and in the works despite a financial setback from the chancellor’s office.

During the spring of 2003, the Student Housing Advisory Committee, SHAC, was formed hoping to present a plan to the chancellor’s office that involved a third-party construction and financing partnership.

The chancellor’s office did not approve of the initial plan because an outside party would be involved in financing and developing the project.

“It was not the plans that hit a snag,” said Lori Varlotta, vice president of student affairs, but by the means by which it would be paid.

The new housing project will be funded entirely by the rent that tenants pay. “Student housing does not get any general fund money,” said Cynthia Cockrill, director of housing and residential life. However, the 10 percent rent increase that the Student Fee Advisory Committee implemented over the past three years has helped build up money in housing reserves.

If the timeline proceeds as planned, Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez said he predicts that construction on the new dorm rooms may start as early as fall 2006.

The current housing plans would incorporate the use of focus groups and surveys, Cockrill said. The focus groups will take place today and Thursday, and will be conducted by SHAC co-chairs, Lori Varlotta, and Stephen Garcia, vice president for administration and business affairs.

Those interviewing will consider opinions of six significant student groups: First-time freshmen currently living in the dorm halls, sophomores and juniors who have continuously lived on-campus, freshman that opted to live off-campus, transfer students living in the dorm halls, international students living both on and off campus, and upper classmen who are living off-campus.

Following the interviews, a universitywide survey will be mailed to students to evaluate the needs of the campus, Varlotta said.

The purpose of the research is to better understand what amenities students, parents and community members want in the new facilities and to settle the question of how many students would live in each unit, Cockrill said.

Cockrill said that she has never felt happier about the direction of student housing. Gonzalez said that he is in not wavering in his vision to build the new dorm housing, which fits directly inline with Destination 2010.

“We need to change the character of the campus from commuter to residential,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez wants to tear down the old cinder-block style dorm buildings and use the same amount of space for the new buildings, but house more students.

The best thing about new dorm buildings would be that they would provide the appropriate amount of safety for students, but also offer amenities that will rival off-campus housing, Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he believes that everyone should be involved in the new development and that campus input is crucial.

Students that are interested in the housing development issue and want have take part in the focus groups should contact Cynthia Cockrill.

Jessica Weidling can be reached at [email protected]