CLIFTON, N.J. – The pool, firm mattresses and plentiful air conditioning are a bonus for Montclair State University students settling into their digs for a new school year. But those assigned to live in a Clifton hotel this semester can’t just roll out of bed and walk to class.
“I’m living in a hotel. It’s just kind of weird,” said Kyle Hoekstra 20, a sophomore from Westwood, as he got ready in his room Tuesday before taking a shuttle bus to Montclair State’s campus.
More than 17,000 students begin fall classes today at Montclair State. Nearly 4,000 have moved into on-campus dorms. But for the fourth year, 200 students new to the university will call the La Quinta Inn on Route 3 their home.
Across the country, universities have resorted to housing students in untraditional facilities because of ever-expanding enrollment. The problem is worse in New Jersey, school administrators say, because public universities do not receive state funds to build housing developments.
Montclair State administrators acknowledge that the hotel isn’t ideal for students, but say it is better than a waiting list. Montclair State dorms ran 18 percent over capacity last year. As of Tuesday, 300 students are on the waiting list for housing, said Kathleen Ragan, an administrator for Student Development and Campus Life.
At least four other New Jersey schools, including Ramapo College, have assigned students to hotels or private housing complexes in the last few years, according to Darryl Greer, director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. Last year, 600 students in New Jersey were housed off-campus in hotels or private apartments.
Enrollment is growing at public universities in New Jersey, and administrators expect cash-strapped families to continue to opt for them over local private schools.
After Rutgers University, Montclair State ranked second among schools to which New Jersey students chose to send their SAT scores this year, according to data released last week by the College Board.To address its space shortage, Montclair State is moving forward with an unusual proposal to find a private developer to build a 1,000-capacity dorm within five miles of campus.
Students would pay their housing fees to the developer, who would locate the property, build the facility and provide transportation to campus.
In 2004, Montclair State put out bids to private hotels in the area to house students. Only La Quinta Inn and its predecessor, Wellesley Hotel, submitted bids, said Ragan, the student housing official.
On Tuesday, some students said their parents worried about them living nearly four miles from campus.
“My mom wasn’t too thrilled about it,” said Danny Benson, 20, who transferred to Montclair State from the County College of Morris. “It’s so far away from campus.”Montclair State provides a free shuttle to students living in the hotel. On Tuesday, the bus was running hourly and arriving late.
Several students said they liked living closer to New York City and having the luxury of someone changing their sheets. During the weekend, they lounged in the carpeted hallway and converged in the comfortable rooms.
But many students said they feel isolated from campus life and services. Carol Barolin, 19, a music therapy student, will need to take the shuttle to practice the piano.
“I feel totally out of the loop,” she said.
- Heather Haddon (AP)