Here at Stony Brook we're opening up with nearly 1100 new students (or
nearly 50% of our incoming class) in temporary housing, which to say the
least creates quite a dense situation. We're using double rooms as
triples, lounges as bedrooms, etc.

While overcrowding is not new to us, this is the first year we've
developed a consistent approach to managing over assignments. Among the
initiatives we've created are:

* Developing a theme to overcrowding: "We're all in this Together" which
features three alligators huddled together under a large umbrella. All
of the literature that addresses overassigned housing includes this theme
and we've even printed up 4 color t-shirts that every resident of
temporary housing receives.

* We've scheduled meetings on the second night of classes in every
residential complex for the professional staff to gather every resident
of over assigned housing and at one consistent time discuss issues
related to overassignment including why it's necessary, expected
timeline, reassignment process, etc. There will be time to answer
specific questions at each session. There will also be light
refreshments, and this will be the time that all over assigned residents
obtain their triple t-shirts.

* We've created a tripling survival guide for all new students that
focuses especially on communication skills and assertiveness. This will
be delivered to every tripled resident by the floor RA when the resident
moves into his/her room.

* At check in, staff will commuicate to all residents of tripled rooms
that the person who ends up in the top bunk of the bunk bed gets a full
dresser and desk for their own, while the two residents who get the
bottom bunk and the stand alone bed will share a desk and a dresser. Not
much, but at least it gives the resident of the top bunk some sense that
they're not totally a nomad.

* Each week, as we relocate residents from temporary housing to
permanent spaces, a moving crew will pick up the belongings of the
resident who is moving and transport it to his / her new room.

Hopefully this helps others facing a temporary housing situation. If
there are other creative coping ideas out there, I'd like to hear about
those too.

Al deVries
Assistant Director for
Housing Administration

Hello!  After a long hiatus from the discussion list, I am finally able
to get back into it.  Your message resonated with me as we've had to deal
with expanded housing for a number of years.  I'm not sure what you mean
by a Triples Program, but I will share with you that communication is
key in situations like this.  We produced newsletters/memos for the
students in expanded housing (and their parents) to keep them informed on
the status of their temporary housing.  We also gave a $15/week credit to
each student living involuntarily in a double-made-into-a-triple room.
The staff on those floors were also keenly aware of potential roommate
situations and tried to be proactive with creating roommate agreements.
On occasion, we've tried bringing those folks together for a fun, social
activity, but to be honest, the turnout was not great.  Usually by the
time we can break down the expanded housing, the students do not want to
be moved.

Good luck with your situation.  Please contact me if I can be of any
assistance.

Joanne Goldwater
Assistant Dean for Residential Life St.
Mary's College of MD