SGSC to close Tiger Village I residence hall for Spring 2015

According to a statement released by South Georgia State College on Monday morning, the college will close one residence hall, Tiger Village I, for the upcoming spring semester and utilize Tiger Village II for all residential students. Tiger Village I was built in 2007 and can house approximately 250 students. Tiger Village II followed in 2010 and can house about 300 students. Since the construction of Tiger Village II, male students have lived in Tiger I while female students have lived in Tiger II. This spring, Tiger II will be a coed residence hall.

The college’s statement doesn’t say exactly why the institution is opting to close one of the residence halls. Instead, it simply states that the decision has been made to “maximize operational efficiencies and demonstrate responsible stewardship of state funds.” The statement begins by mentioning the fact that fall enrollment was up 1.5 percent. An initial enrollment press release, which the college issued in early October, didn’t break down the number of residential students v. the number of commuter students. Likewise, Monday’s statement didn’t mention the number of residential students on campus this fall or the projected number of residential students SGSC is expecting for Spring 2015.

SGSC notified students of the closure at a town hall meeting held on campus last week.

Here is the college’s statement in its entirety:

“As reported earlier this fall, South Georgia State College's enrollment in August was up 1.5 percent, which included a stable commuter cohort as well as an increase in new residential students and the dual enrollment segment. In reviewing spring 2015 residential enrollment projections, the decision has been made to utilize one residence hall for spring semester 2015.
 
“According to Mr. Wes Brown, SGSC's Vice President for Student Success, “This is a strategic move supported by the University System of Georgia and is intended to maximize operational efficiencies and demonstrate responsible stewardship of state funds.”  SGSC also plans to take advantage of this period to perform more detailed routine maintenance than would otherwise be practical. Students will be housed in the newer, larger facility that opened in 2010 and has three floors.
 
“A residential student town hall meeting was held by SGSC's Residence Life staff on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, to discuss this decision with all residential students and to provide necessary information relating to their return to campus in January.  The SGSC Residence Life staff will continue to work with students to ensure a smooth transition until the relocation is completed at the beginning of spring semester. This decision is for spring semester 2015 only, and plans are to occupy both residence halls again in fall 2015.”