Housing and Residential Education (HRE) is offering a new discount incentive for the 2016-2017 year.
Recently, students received an email from HRE stating that those who complete the housing application process for next year — including paying the reservation fee — by certain dates will be entered in drawings to receive either a 25, 50, 70 or 100 percent discount on their rent.
Jeremy Early, HRE associate director for administrative service, said a group of team members and student leaders collaborated to come up with ideas to generate enthusiasm for on-campus housing and settled on the discount idea. The initiative will use funds set aside annually for HRE marketing and advertising.
Connor Nipper, a freshman in architectural studies who currently lives on campus, said the possibility of winning a discount will encourage him to sign up earlier than he might have otherwise.
This incentive moves reservation dates up a month and is in line with student requests for earlier sign-up dates, Early said.
Students who are in good standing with the U and reserve a space by Feb. 12 will be entered in a drawing for a 100 percent discount. Students can also be entered for a 75 percent discount by if reserved by Feb. 19, 50 percent if reserved by Feb. 26 and a 25 percent discount if reserved by March 4. One winner will be selected per discount each week and all other contestants will remain in the drawing pool until the last date.
Early said the discount includes all housing locations but not meal plans. Winners will be announced over Twitter and Facebook.
Returning students who meet housing eligibility requirements can renew the space they are currently living in starting Feb. 8 and will be able to apply for a new space starting Feb. 10.
@NikiVenugopal