Due to the pandemic that has swept the nation and Drury University’s campus, multiple parts of day-to-day life have changed drastically. Freshmen are living in dorms by themselves when they are normally accompanied by roommates and guests are no longer permitted. Also, the RACA staff was immensely cut down, along with other varying changes across campus.

With all of the unknowns Drury’s campus has been facing concerning housing this past year, the question arises, how is housing going to work next year? Housing and Residential Program Director, Ethan Sykes confirmed that Drury University is hoping and expecting to be at normal occupancy for the upcoming academic year. However, it is vital to understand that this pandemic is ever-changing, so the COVID-19 regulations may be prone to change. However, Sykes is determined to ensure students are promptly aware of any changes that begin to happen.

The steps to ensure that each student understands the new housing application process are as follows: the first and most crucial step for returning students is to fill out the ‘2021-2022 Housing Contract’ that can be found on MyDrury, by February 19th at 4 PM. Also due by February 19th is the ‘21-22 Housing Intention Form’ which can be found at Drury’s website or by using this link.

On the Housing Intention Form, students have the option to choose whether they would like to stay within their current apartment, or if they would like to select new housing for the following academic year. Students also have the option, if they are opting to keep their current apartment the same, to request to keep the same roommates they currently have as well. Some housing options are unable to be requested again. For example, freshmen are not required to fill out the ‘21-22 Housing Intention Form’ since they are unable to request to live in the dorms for a second year. Other places that are not available for reapplication are accessible housing units, fraternity rooms, and themed houses.

If students are not wishing to keep their current housing, or plan on living in a regular apartment such as College Park, Manley Hall, or Jefferson Park, there is a different application process. Those who are hoping to live in one of the following should follow these instructions as given by Ethan Sykes:

“Summit Park: https://www.drury.edu/housing/housing-forms/summit-park-themed-living-application#:~:text=Summit%20Park%20Themed%20Living%20Application,or%20stop%20by%20FSC%20120.

Fraternities: will go through their selections.”

The forms for Summit Park and the varying Midtown Houses are also due February 19th, the same as the Housing Contract and Intention forms.

Once all the proper forms have been completed, those who are within the Returner Self-Assignment Groups (those who are not keeping the same living location), will receive an online link based on their student classification. Students will use this link on their given date and time to select their desired room and roommates. Then selected students will receive a confirmation email sent to their Drury email, which they need to confirm within two hours to guarantee the space they’ve selected.

In the past this event would be in person, however, due to COVID safety precautions the link will be sent out on the appropriate day and will be completely online. Below is the given information of what day each grade will be emailed, along with how many credit hours it takes to qualify as each class:

– Graduate Students/Seniors: March 2nd. 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. (90 credit hours to graduation)

– Juniors: March 4th. 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. (60 to 89 credit hours of earned credit)

– Sophomores: March 9th: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. (30 to 59 credit hours of earned credit)

– Freshman: March 11th. 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (0 to 29 credit hours of earned credit)

Credit hours for the Spring 2021 semester will not count for earned credits. Students can check their credits earned on the Grade Report under the Student Tab at MyDrury.

The final part of the Housing Process is knowing which apartment or space to select. Currently, Ethan Sykes has provided this video.

Although Sykes also states, “I’m hoping to put together a better video […] I will be emailing out the apartment layouts a week before with the signup information so students can get an idea of what apartments they want before the Returner Self-Assignment process starts.”

With the leadership and organization of the Housing Department and Director Ethan Sykes, each Drury student can rest assured that this process will be successful, and we can hopefully begin to have a sense of normalcy with the academic year of 2021-2022.

Article by Gabriella Wuller