A decrease in enrollment for Shepherd University as a West Virginia university has caused a decline in first-year housing numbers on campus.
According to Dr. Tom Segar, Vice President of Student Affairs, “There are fewer first-year students living in first-year halls, but our number of returning students in residence halls has not decreased.”
Yet, the apartments and suites at Shepherd are at full occupancy. “The decrease in first-year students, which includes commuters, has been predicted for years,” Segar said.
This decline is mostly because of a decrease in the enrollment of students in public colleges and universities in West Virginia of 5 percent or more. Segar stated that “the most important thing students can do to stay in school is go to class every day.”
One of the experiences many freshmen look forward to is living on campus. Students get to explore a whole new environment outside of their comfort zone. Eventually, students will make friends and start a daily routine. After freshmen year, many students at Shepherd University choose to move off campus, despite the stable number of returning students living on campus.
Matt Copley, a junior at Shepherd, previously lived in Printz Hall before deciding to commute. When asked why he chose to move off campus, Copley replied, “Simple: because there are no RAs, no room inspections and it’s about $900 cheaper to live off campus depending on how much your rent is.” Copley also mentioned that by living off campus he does feel a little out of the social loop, but he stays connected through his friends.
Kandis Stoy, a junior at Shepherd, lived in Shaw Hall her freshman year and was also an RA in Gardiner Hall as a sophomore. When asked about why she chose to commute, Stoy said, “It’s ridiculous paying for a bed and a small living space for just 30 weeks. That’s $200 a week.” Stoy enjoys her apartment off campus because she has plenty of space and it’s only $400 a month.
Since last year, the cost of living on campus has also increased by more than 3.7 percent for both in- and out-of-state students. Residents living in Kenamond, Gardiner or Turner currently pay $4,370 per semester for room and board, a $316 total increase from last year.
Although the cost for Shepherd University’s housing increased this year, the numbers are expected to go up within the next year. Shepherd feels it has a great community for residents and that is why the number of returning students has not declined.
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