Lakehead University Acknowledges and Responds to Residence Student Concerns

(October 14, 2011 - Orillia, ON) Lakehead University acknowledges and responds to questions and concerns from students living in residence at the Orillia campus with detailed answers and offers of financial compensation.

"We realize that the first six weeks of residence life for our students this year have been anything but typical," says Campus Dean Kim Fedderson.

The newly constructed residence at the University Avenue campus had an opening delay, and as a result more than 100 Lakehead students were housed in local hotels for the first few weeks of the fall semester. When the students moved into their residence rooms in late September, they were faced with further inconveniences as construction of the residence and cafeteria continued.

"Students were excited to move into residence and pleased with their accommodations," noted Jean Acharya, residence general manager. "However, many students expressed their disappointment that some services, such as cable TV, laundry facilities, and cafeteria food services were not fully in place and available at that time."

Since then, laundry services have been installed; satellite TV is available in student lounges; and the cafeteria is scheduled to open for full meal service on Monday, October 17, 2011.

In recognition of these inconveniences, Lakehead University is reducing residence fees at its Orillia campus by $500 for the academic year (September 2011 to April 2012). In addition, all residence students will receive a credit to their meal plans.

"Generally, our residence students have been extremely patient with respect to the challenges we have faced with the completion of our new residence. We appreciate their understanding of the situation and we hope that by listening to their concerns, providing timely information updates, and reducing residence fees this year, we can mitigate any further disruptions to their studies," says Fedderson.

The Orillia campus residence currently houses over 100 students and, once construction is fully complete, will have a capacity for 271 students, all in single room accommodation.

The community will have an opportunity to visit and explore the University Avenue campus and its new facilities at an Open House event on November 10. The event will be held in conjunction with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) "Open Doors - Open Knowledge" celebrations taking place across Canada between November 4 - 13.

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Media: For more information, please contact Lakehead University Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.