UNL residence hall improvements, additions ready for 2005-06

University of Nebraska-Lincoln students will find more major enhancements to on-campus living when they move in next week.

UNL's second apartment-style residence hall for upperclass students will be home to 526 students, while both new and returning students will enjoy newly renovated Schramm and Smith residence halls after completion of the second phase of a two-year renovation project. And, according to recent figures, UNL housing is the third most-affordable in the Big 12 Conference.

Apartment living: Beginning Aug. 16, students will move into the new Husker Village apartment-style residence hall at 16th and Y streets. The building offers furnished, four-bedroom and two-bedroom units with full kitchens and a bathroom for every two students. Apartment-style living is a popular alternative to off-campus living, and last year's first-ever suite project, Husker Courtyards, was immensely popular with returning students, said Doug Zatechka, director of University Housing.

"As soon as we started taking applications for Husker Courtyards, there was a stampede," Zatechka said. "It's ideal for returning and transfer students who want to live on campus while enjoying the benefits of a private apartment. They're very attractive and students have liked everything they've seen. They're also a great value when priced comparatively with what you would pay for utilities and other amenities off-campus."

At $470 per person per month, Husker Village and Husker Courtyards units are fully furnished, and include all utilities, cable television, local phone service, high-speed Internet access, laundry rooms on each floor, large storage rooms, special high-tech security, front desk service and bathroom cleaning services. Students also can eat two meals a week in the dining halls -- a popular addition for students.

"We added the two meals and students were ecstatic," Zatechka said. "Even though they like having their own kitchen and preparing their own meals and snacks most of the time, those two meals just make things easier for them a couple times a week. "

Zatechka said a limited number of openings remain in both Husker Village and Husker Courtyards. Husker Courtyards, at 17th and Vine streets, houses 478 students, mostly in four-bedroom suites.

Schramm and Smith halls renovation: Aug. 18 marks official move-in day for students in the Harper-Schramm-Smith complex near 14th and Holdrege streets. Harper Hall was totally renovated in summer 2004 with a new first-floor lobby complete with fireplace, and new lounges and study rooms on both the first floor and residential floors. Similar renovations in Schramm and Smith bring all three halls fully up-to-date in their first remodeling since 1967. These buildings also have high-tech security systems, new bathrooms with private shower areas, and laundry rooms on each floor. Resident room improvements include all new furnishings, refrigerators, windows and heating and air conditioning systems.

"The differences seen from the outside are the new windows and some new landscaping," Zatechka said. "But when you go inside, they're very different. They look great. These renovated halls proved so popular with students that they were completely filled to capacity by late March -- unusually early in the room reservation process." Even with the addition of the 1,004 beds in the apartment-style halls, the net increase was not significant because 300 beds at Harper-Schramm-Smith were converted into lounges, study halls, laundry rooms and other uses. Zatechka said the traditional units on campus are 97 percent full.

The other significant change students in the Harper-Schramm-Smith area will notice this fall is that the complex's center courtyard area has been completely renovated, with new landscaping plus new seating and picnic areas.

The remaining Harper-Schramm-Smith improvement project is renovation of the dining facility, which is not finished. Students in the complex will have access to a continental breakfast at Schramm, and will take their other meals at the other residence dining halls, all within a 5- to 10-minute walk. The new Harper-Schramm-Smith dining hall will be completed early in 2006 and will feature market-style dining and display cooking, similar to the newly renovated Selleck Dining Hall.

For the second year, UNL meal plans allow students one-price, unlimited access at all university dining halls, a plan available at only a few universities nationwide. Under the new plan, students can have a meal, drink or snack anytime, in addition to regular meals.

Affordability: In a recent price comparison, UNL residence hall rates were 10th lowest in the Big 12, Zatechka said, and if comparing "apples to apples," would likely be 12th. Further, UNL Housing ranks 11th out of the 11 schools in price on the Regents Peer Group list, some of which are more than $2,000 higher for an academic year.

"Most of these colleges and universities aren't offering free high-speed Internet access, free cable, a free telephone, and the unlimited meal plan like we are," Zatechka said. "We have not found another major state school that offers the full-service meal option like we do. Price-wise, if you compare equally, we become the lowest very fast."

CONTACTS: Doug Zatechka, Director, University Housing, (402) 472-3561
Susan Gildersleeve, Assoc. Director, University Housing, (402) 472-3886