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I have received your letter of February 25, 2003, and your concern about the housing policy for the ISU Residence system. Communications with students and their families on this policy has not been as clear as it should have been, and I certainly understand your concern.

It is intended that the so-called 75%/25% policy be very flexible, and, for example, we expect that all of the students living in the Union Drive Association and the Richardson Court Association will be able to return to their current Residence hall if they so desire. That is, given the number of first year students at Iowa State University who choose to live in Residence halls, returning students should have no difficulty obtaining a desired room assignment.

This policy was meant more to indicate a goal of establishing that certain areas within the Residence system are designed more for certain groups of students. Thus, University Village and Schilletter Village mostly attract students with families, although there are students without families living there; Fredericksen Court mostly attracts upper division students who want more freedom; Maple Hall has very specific criteria for living there; and Union Drive and Richardson ourt will be designed mostly, but not exclusively, for first year students since they need more support and guidance. But even then we expect to be able to accomodate most, if not all, of the housing wishes of our students.

Again, thank you for writing.
Gregory L. Geoffrey