416... and counting

So I'm doing a running count on my facebook page, but can't really explain it there...

So, the count is down to 412...

412 what? you ask...

It's actually 416 people that we've pissed off in the last week... it's down to 412 because we've been able to help some people.. but still  412 is a lot!

How have we pissed them off, you ask?  (Yes, I realize I should never write anything in second person and my high school AND college instructors would keel over with a heart attack, but I LIKE it)

Anyway, so I work at a University... in Housing.  I don't want to say that Admissions admitted too many people.... because we have an open admittance policy... BUT... if all first year students are REQUIRED to live on campus unless they live within 60 miles of campus... they really should limit first year students to the amount of space we have for them... don'tcha think?? 

Unfortunately, what is logical to most of us somehow escapes our admissions folks.  Their job is to get their admissions numbers up -- our job is to house them and help them succeed to graduation...

Unfortunately, helping them succeed becomes harder when they admit 500 more folks than we can house...

Anyway, we have an early payment of $150 (Kind of like a deposit) due of all returning and new students by July 1st.  In past years if a student hasn't paid that they would lose their assignment, but since we had plenty of space they could calls us, pay it, and get their room back.  This year -- not so much.  This year we have to give priority to first year students who paid their $150 on time.  So a lot of our upper class students (311 to be exact) lost their room because they didn't pay on time and are ANGRY and calling to get their room back.  UNFORTUNATELY, we have 640 first year students who did pay on time whom we have to find rooms for -- so the upper class students are now wait-listed.  This is the first group of students who are pissed off at us...

Group 2:  During returning student sign-up we allowed 125 students sign up for single rooms.  They pay extra for the single and it allows us to make up some of the $$ we lose if we can't fill a building.  Unfortunately, we now need that space so this week we canceled ALL single rooms.  Which ended up being 85 rooms.  So now all of those folks are calling, angry (OK it's not really the students -- it's the parents -- who are WORSE when it comes to entitlement).  They are demanding their single rooms back and we just don't have the space.. so we are allowing them to choose a roommate (who already has a housing contract AND has paid their $150) or move off campus.  This has created an entirely different group of angry people. 

This number also includes University Athletes -- who are pissed as are their families and coaches...

So the 416 is an approximate number.. but still.. it's a lot of people to have calling and yelling at us.  I am so very grateful for the six ladies who sit at the front counter and answer the telephone.  Their life sucks right now and I keep taking them candy and small gifts to thank then.  Unfortunately, my PIC and I get stuck with all the really REALLY mean parents who call -- Yay for us.... (mock cheering)

Anyway, that's what those numbers are all about... there is a silver lining!!  The bottom line -- $$$  lots and lots of extra $$ to do fun things with next year!! 

Well, that's IF all the students who say they are coming actually come and IF when they get here they can actually pay their bills... and that's IF they can afford their books and IF they actually go to class and not get kicked out...

I love my job.  (You can decide for yourself if that is sarcasm or not)