First-year University of Guelph students refused a spot in residence this fall say they are disappointed, frustrated and, in some cases, feel they were misled.
Notices went out this week notifying them they were not getting into residence.
In previous years the U of G has guaranteed first-year students a place in residence. That changed during the pandemic and hasn't been reinstated.
A recruiting brochure distributed by the school told prospective students they were "GUARANTEED" a spot in residence if they applied by June 1, although it notes that is "subject to change."
Several parents and students reached out to GuelphToday to express their disappointment and frustration. All wished to remain anonymous for fear it might reflect negatively on their children.
Several of the students chose the U of G in part based on being accepted into residence, they said.
“There was no guarantee the exact type of room you were going to get into,” said an incoming first year U of G student. “There was no information posed to us about us not getting a room, period.”
He explained he spoke with someone on the housing services team who said students who they felt could commute, who are from Guelph, Kitchener and Cambridge, were placed on a wait list.
The university told GuelphToday said it is unable to meet the demand for residence.
They received 5,150 residence applications for 4,700 spots. Out of town students are given priority.
"Secondary students coming to U of G for their first year have priority. Students who live in the region (e.g., Guelph) were put on a waiting list," said U of G spokesperson Lori Bona Hunt in an email.
"While this was a difficult decision, we believe that students who currently have local accommodations are less likely to be affected by housing insecurity while we look at options. Due to demand, there will be no upper year students in campus residences this fall except for Residence Life staff, with few exceptions."
Bona Hunt said the U of G is looking to partner with a local hotel to create an "annexed" residence.
The opportunity to live and learn independently has been stripped from him and other students who live in Guelph, the one incoming student emphasized.
“To know that the university that I had so much trust in, so much faith in. I was looking forward to being with, they’ve turned their backs on me and any of the other people in the community,” he said.
“As first years, this is the first experience we’ve had with the U of G and unfortunately it’s not a good one.”
Lynn, who didn’t want her last name to be used, is a parent of a student who is going to U of G this September. Yesterday, her daughter received an email explaining she did not get a spot in residence but is priority on the waitlist.
“It’s all about your first year and this is how you’re going to meet people and make those connections,” said Lynn. She said living on campus is a big part in the university experience.
“I don’t think they should be penalized because they live in town but chose to go to this university,” she said. Her daughter lives with her in Guelph and explained it has been difficult to find rentals off-campus so she may only have the choice to live at home.
Lynn said she wished her daughter knew earlier there were not enough spots in residence for everyone who applied, she likely would have gone to another university.
Another Guelph parent said their child likely would have selected another school if they had known they weren't getting into residence in Guelph. That, he said, should have been part of the information given to families as they made their decisions.
Bona Hunt says there was "some misunderstanding" about residence guarantees.
A U of G recruitment brochure states: "You are GUARANTEED a spot in residence if you submit your online residence application and pay your $750 residence deposit by June 1 2022." It does note that the information is "subject to change."
"We changed our student housing approach during the pandemic. The University of Guelph currently has a residence priority guarantee; secondary students entering their first year at U of G have priority for residence in fall 2022 based on availability. We are aware that there is some misunderstanding about our residence priority guarantee and are working to clarify information and apologize for any misunderstanding."
She said the U of G is working to to help students, including having an off-campus housing page and programs and virtual meetings that focus on providing students with support and connections relating to housing.
