In February, Alfred University students received an email about housing options for the next academic year. Many students may have skipped the fine print and gone directly to signing the waivers— we understand, we’re all pretty busy. However, at the bottom of the email was a section called ‘FAQs’. In it, one question has stood out as a concern for many students:

Q: When will I be able to select my housing assignment for the 2024-2025 academic year?

A: You will be assigned a spot in line, based on the number of credits you have completed and your GPA, for the process you indicate want to be in in your application…”

For many, the idea of using GPA in the selection has left them feeling worried. Using credits completed is nothing new— seniors pick first, then juniors, sophomores, etc— but for individual grades to determine the lineup feels like more of a gray area.

The idea of using GPA as a selection factor in the housing queue has brought up many concerns; one in particular being that, because many classes have attendance policies where grades can fall due to absence, what happens for students with disabilities who miss class due to doctor’s appointments or because of a flare-up? 

Other concerns were expressed for students with high-demand majors, such as engineering. STEM classes are typically considered more difficult, making it harder to maintain perfect scores. For a student who is still doing well in their courses, but has a GPA that doesn’t say the same, how will this change affect them?

The numerous changes in meal plans, housing, and other factors have made many students feel nervous about the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, some of which expressing that they feel the university may have gone too far with the changes in such a short span of time. Erich Dobson, the Resident Director of Dining Services on campus, explained at a Student Senate meeting on Wednesday, February 28th that many changes on campus were left over from the pandemic, and that things are still in the process of returning to normal.

The effects of these changes are yet to be seen in full, but in the meantime, many students are hoping for clarity.