Stephen Salach said he planned to live in the dorms at Albright College during his freshman and sophomore years and then move into an off-campus house for his final two years.

But beginning with the fall 2017 semester, Albright College will require the vast majority of undergraduate students to live in on-campus housing or campus-approved housing. The Reading-based college informed students of the new policy this week.

"If I knew that before I might have gone somewhere else," said Salach, a freshman.

Still, he added, "It makes it (Albright) a little less ideal, but it's not a deal breaker."

Yawo Baah, 24, of South Plainfield, N.J. and an assistant soccer coach at Albright, said the new on-campus residency requirement should prove to be helpful with recruiting efforts.

"The parents feel more comfortable knowing their kids will be living on campus," Baah said. "Since many of our players have academic scholarships, the parents can save money not having to pay rent for an off-campus apartment." Baah also said most schools competing with Albright for players don't have the four-year on-campus residency requirement.

On Wednesday, Albright sent emails to the college's roughly 1,700 conventional four-year students about the new residency requirement. The college also detailed plans for a new residence hall, the Rockland Plaza Residence Hall, opening in the fall of 2017.

In the past, Albright required all freshman and sophomore students to live in on-campus housing or dormitories. Now, virtually all undergraduates will be required to live on campus. Exceptions will be made in some circumstances, including students in financial hardship or those living with their parents and within a 30-minute drive of the college.

Albright spokeswoman Hilary Bentman said the four-year on-campus residence requirement is similar to residential policies being adopted by other colleges its size. Albright believes having a large number of students living as a community on campus will enhance the college experience all the more, she said.

"The decision is based on our ability to now do it," Bentman stressed. "We have this new building and it gives us the capacity to move to a four-year housing policy."

Easing tensions

City Councilman Stratton Marmarou, whose district includes the campus and the College Heights neighborhood, has frequently locked horns with college officials over the proliferation of off-campus houses in neighborhoods around the campus.

Marmarou said having groups of students living in houses in residential neighborhoods brings down property values in those neighborhoods and police are often called to break up loud parties on weekends.

"This could really help the community," Marmarou said of Albright's new housing policy. "If it's going to help the community up here then I'm all for it."

"If the kids are going to move on campus instead of our in the neighborhoods that's a good thing," Marmarou said. "Maybe the new trustees and the president want to keep the kids on campus to put an end to all the bickering and complaining that goes on between the residents and the students living in off-campus housing."

If bringing most students into on-campus housing pleases some of Albright's neighbors, it's all the better, Bentman said.

"Certainly this will ease the impact of students living in the neighborhoods," she said. "We are cognizant of the feelings of our neighbors."

'I don't have an option'

Olivia Gehrer, 18, a freshman from Milton, Northumberland County, said she hadn't given the on-campus/off-campus living issue much thought because she didn't plan to consider moving off-campus until after her second year.

"Now I don't have an option, I'll have to live on campus all four years," she said. "It would have been nice to have the option."

Likewise, Megan Schafer, 19, a freshman from Pennsville, N.J., said her intent all along was to live in the dorms the first two years and then get an off-campus house with friends during her junior and senior years.

"I think the ability to live off campus the last two years helps you develop a better sense of independence," Schafer said. "But I came here for the academics so it's not going to change my decision."

Christian Rios, 20, a freshman who commutes every day from Ephrata, is concerned that his commute might put him outside the 30-minute commuting window contained in the new policy. Students whose commute is more than 30 minutes must live on campus, according to the policy.

"I commute, so I don't know what impact it will have on me," Rios said.

According to Google Maps, the online navigation application, Ephrata is a 30-minute commute under normal traffic conditions.

The new hall

Albright has signed a management agreement with RadKra, LLC, developers of the Rockland Plaza Residence Hall. It is being built on a portion of the Rockland Plaza Shopping Center that had been vacant and was demolished to clear the way for the project in the 1100 block of Rockland Street.

The proposed five-story building will have 103,605 square feet of space. In addition to housing 265 students, the building is expected to have two restaurants and other commercial space on the first floor of the building.

Bentman said the addition of the residence hall provides enough room for a four-year residency requirement.

"The Rockland Plaza Residence Hall is not an Albright project and will remain the property of the developer," Bentman said. "We won't earn any room rental fees but will enter into a management agreement with the builders."

Bentman said Albright will place resident assistants and an assistant director of residential life in the building. The college will collect a fee for managing the Rockland facility, like the other dormitories and residence halls on campus.

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Exceptions to rule

Albright College will institute a mandatory four-year, on-campus living policy for most of its students. The following are exceptions:

--Current sophomores and juniors who have signed a lease before Dec. 6 to live in off-campus housing next year will be exempt for the 2017-18 academic year only. Students seeking this exemption must submit a copy of the signed lease to the college's Office of Residential Life for verification.

--Students who choose to commute from their permanent home address within 30 minutes of campus and are residing with a parent or legal guardian.

--Students who are at least 22 years old before the start of the spring semester.

--Students who are married or are part of a legal domestic partnership.

--Students who are legal guardians of minors who reside with them on a permanent basis.

--Students who are military veterans.

--Extreme financial hardship created by living on campus, as confirmed by financial aid or student accounts offices.

--Seniors who do not meet the criteria may also apply to live off-campus. In order to be considered, seniors must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, be in good social and academic standing on campus, and submit a letter of appeal to the Office of Residential Life explaining why they wish to live off campus.

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What others require

Albright College will require all undergraduate students to live in on-campus housing for all four years starting in the fall semester of 2017. The other four-year colleges in Berks County have varying housing policies.

Penn State Berks: The campus has no housing requirements. Students can live in on-campus dorms and housing or they can opt to commute from home or live in off-campus housing. Currently, 822 students live on campus.

Kutztown University: Beginning with the fall semester of 2017, Kutztown will require all freshmen and sophomores to live in on-campus housing. After earning 60 credit hours or completing four full semesters, students can move off campus. Students who live in a ZIP code within 30 miles of the campus can commute to classes. Kutztown has a total enrollment of 8,513 and has a capacity of 4,400 students on-campus.

Alvernia University: Alvernia has a two-year residency requirement. There are several exceptions, including commuters living at home with a parent or guardian; students who are over 21; students who are married; students who are caregivers for the young or elderly; or those who have special medical needs. There are 926 students living on campus.

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Dan Kelly -- Reporter/columnist

Reporter Dan Kelly covers City Hall for the Reading Eagle.

Phone: 610-371-5040

Email: dkelly@readingeagle.com

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