Students are adapting well to the new preference-based computer system after rising seniors applied for on-campus housing last week, said Seth Weinshel, assignments director of GW Housing Programs.
Whereas students previously chose available rooms during time slots governed by randomly assigned numbers, the new assignment system called iHousing uses a computer program to make assignments based on individual preferences of buildings, room sizes and roommates.
"We've done everything we need to do to make the system as not confusing as possible," Weinshel said. "We haven't heard people say 'This was hard to figure out.'"
Although the process is different from what students have experienced in the past, Weinshel said students shouldn't be confused as iHousing is a very similar system to freshman housing selection. About 80 percent of rising seniors completed online housing applications last week. The other 20 percent are either planning to live off campus or failed to complete their forms on time.
Weinshel added that GW Housing Programs has dedicated many hours toward educating students on the new system. He said students that are constantly in contact with other students, such as Residential Property Management staff and members of the Student Association, all received training on the new program.
GW Housing Programs recommends students choose at least five preferences. Most students have chosen five to seven, but preferences can range from one to 17.
On March 29, most students applying for on-campus housing will receive an assignment. Some students, however, will be placed on a wait list because the computer system could not match an available room with their preferences.
Rising sophomores not receiving a housing assignment go onto a guaranteed wait list because of a zoning agreement requiring all underclassmen to be housed on campus. Weinshel said he does not expect there to be a wait list for rising sophomores, but it is a possibility. He said he expects a non-guaranteed wait list for rising upperclassmen.
Whereas students previously chose available rooms during time slots governed by randomly assigned numbers, the new assignment system called iHousing uses a computer program to make assignments based on individual preferences of buildings, room sizes and roommates.
"We've done everything we need to do to make the system as not confusing as possible," Weinshel said. "We haven't heard people say 'This was hard to figure out.'"
Although the process is different from what students have experienced in the past, Weinshel said students shouldn't be confused as iHousing is a very similar system to freshman housing selection. About 80 percent of rising seniors completed online housing applications last week. The other 20 percent are either planning to live off campus or failed to complete their forms on time.
Weinshel added that GW Housing Programs has dedicated many hours toward educating students on the new system. He said students that are constantly in contact with other students, such as Residential Property Management staff and members of the Student Association, all received training on the new program.
GW Housing Programs recommends students choose at least five preferences. Most students have chosen five to seven, but preferences can range from one to 17.
On March 29, most students applying for on-campus housing will receive an assignment. Some students, however, will be placed on a wait list because the computer system could not match an available room with their preferences.
Rising sophomores not receiving a housing assignment go onto a guaranteed wait list because of a zoning agreement requiring all underclassmen to be housed on campus. Weinshel said he does not expect there to be a wait list for rising sophomores, but it is a possibility. He said he expects a non-guaranteed wait list for rising upperclassmen.
