by Duane Kross
May 3, 2024

Starting in the Fall 2024 semester at GCC, there will no longer be a $250 security deposit required for prospective residents of GCC’s College Village. There will only be a $50 application fee – a significant reduction that Residence Life & Learning Director Mary-Clare “MC” Tasber says not only benefits students, but the staff at the College Village as well.

“This change will not only make reserving a room more affordable, but it also reduces the amount of time staff will need to dedicate to processing accounts,” Tasber says. “With reduced administrative work, our staff can maximize their time better towards programming, community development, and upgrades that benefit students.”

Prospective residents of the College Village not only have a reduction in fees to look forward to but also the many benefits of residing there. “There is a whole career path of higher educational professionals and student development theorists who have researched the benefits of on-campus living,” Tasber says. “The convenience comes to mind first, to be able to easily make connections with other students, faculty, and resume building opportunities like clubs and leadership roles. There has also been a correlation seen between on-campus housing and academic success, likely because of the access to resources and removal of distractions that living at home might entail. We also provide more support than a landlord,” she says. “Our goal is to help residents develop life skills, connect with the community, and be successful academically, so our resident assistants and staff do a lot of outreaches to students who might be struggling to help them connect with resources.”

Additionally, the College Village’s annual survey provides important insight into what the residents enjoy most about Village life. “Our annual survey consistently highlights the convenience of being close to classes, the sense of community that residents feel, and the benefit of interacting with a broad range of diverse cultures, ideas, and experiences that might not be found elsewhere. We do also get some comments that our staff, both resident assistants and professional team members, help them feel welcome here at GCC,” says Tasber.

Tasber says that the importance of their annual survey cannot be overstated. She and other professionals rely on these responses to improve college life. “College Village is more than just a place to stay, it’s a place to grow,” she says. “We are a part of a network of ‘Residence Life’ professionals who work to infuse the residence hall experience with opportunities to learn and grow. We also strive to respond to student needs. That annual survey really makes a difference. We’ve successfully made changes to resident transportation, guest policies, conduct procedures, and now the deposit to better meet our students where they are at so they can feel good about their decision to live in the residence halls with us. If you see a survey, do it! It really does make a difference here.”

To apply to GCC’s College Village, go to the following website: https://gccvillage.com/apply/