2008 Woodie Awards
Housing departments merge for more efficient student service
Katie Broderick
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
UTC Place housing and university housing have combined their offices to form a new housing department, called University Residence Life.
Housing director Steven Hood said the change is an attempt to provide more effective and efficient service to residents of campus housing.
He said: "[UTC housing and UTC Place staff] are literally working side by side. This will allow for quicker response to questions by residents or prospective residents as we have more staff in one location that will be able to respond to walk-in customers and phone calls."
Quetta Pipkin, a Memphis junior and RA in Boling, said she adores the fact that the housing offices have joined together.
She said: "To me, it symbolizes the university coming together as one. We had the housing office up on the hill and then UTC Place, and it caused a lot of confusion and people didn't know who to talk to."
Pipkin added: "Everyone will be working more smoothly. It will help the housing office get on task and UTC Place stay straightforward."
Doug Adams, a Cookeville, Tenn., sophomore and RA in Lockmiller, said he is not a big fan of the change.
"They've been mailing all of our stuff down [to UTC Place] instead of mailing it to us in Lockmiller. The fact that it's so far away is inconvenient," he said.
Hood said the only drawback to combining the offices is the new location. University Residence Life is now located at UTC Place, on the perimeter of campus.
"We were looking for a space large enough to hold 13 staff members. UTC Place was the most cost-effective location, as any other space would have required a considerable cost in remodeling," Hood said.
"Students can, however, take the Mocs Express shuttle, which has a drop off in front of our office. We will also work to decentralize any business that currently takes place in the main office that may be moved to the complex offices," he added.
Hood said merging the housing offices will not impact prices.
Housing director Steven Hood said the change is an attempt to provide more effective and efficient service to residents of campus housing.
He said: "[UTC housing and UTC Place staff] are literally working side by side. This will allow for quicker response to questions by residents or prospective residents as we have more staff in one location that will be able to respond to walk-in customers and phone calls."
Quetta Pipkin, a Memphis junior and RA in Boling, said she adores the fact that the housing offices have joined together.
She said: "To me, it symbolizes the university coming together as one. We had the housing office up on the hill and then UTC Place, and it caused a lot of confusion and people didn't know who to talk to."
Pipkin added: "Everyone will be working more smoothly. It will help the housing office get on task and UTC Place stay straightforward."
Doug Adams, a Cookeville, Tenn., sophomore and RA in Lockmiller, said he is not a big fan of the change.
"They've been mailing all of our stuff down [to UTC Place] instead of mailing it to us in Lockmiller. The fact that it's so far away is inconvenient," he said.
Hood said the only drawback to combining the offices is the new location. University Residence Life is now located at UTC Place, on the perimeter of campus.
"We were looking for a space large enough to hold 13 staff members. UTC Place was the most cost-effective location, as any other space would have required a considerable cost in remodeling," Hood said.
"Students can, however, take the Mocs Express shuttle, which has a drop off in front of our office. We will also work to decentralize any business that currently takes place in the main office that may be moved to the complex offices," he added.
Hood said merging the housing offices will not impact prices.
