At Lipscomb University, all students are required to pay to reside in one of the on-campus residence halls until they are 21 years old.  The only exceptions apply to those who have the option of living with their parents or legal guardians (who must be located near or around campus), those who are transfer students, or those who are married.  By itself, this requirement causes financial distress and inconvenience for many students.  As a related issue, this petition addresses the fact that Lipscomb closes all residence halls, with no exceptions, during the numerous breaks throughout the year, such as Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break.  For many students, closing of the residence halls for breaks, combined with the on-campus housing requirement creates a situation where those who need to stay in Nashville during breaks have nowhere to stay.  The residence hall is their home, and they are effectively homeless for the duration of the breaks. 

The fact is, not every student is able to (or wants to) go back to living with their family (if they have one) for these often brief periods of time.  Many have jobs they are forced to leave for breaks, and other opportunities, which is a dilemma not easily overcome with an employer.  Additionally, the cost of traveling back-and-forth, particularly for out-of-state students, can be unaffordable, especially around the holidays when airfares skyrocket.  The point is, if Lipscomb is requiring students to pay to live on-campus in order to be a student, they should keep the residence halls open to accommodate the many students who don't have any other living options, or provide an on-campus solution that is included in the residence fees they already pay.  The rule has been in place for as long as most people can remember, but with a new president of the school this semester, perhaps this can change.

Below is the official 2021-2022 Residence Hall closure schedule from Lipscomb's website:

FALL 2021

8/16-17 - Freshmen and Transfer Move In

8/21-22 - Returning Student Move In

10/15 - Fall Break (Halls Remain Open)

11/20 - Thanksgiving Break Begins: Halls Close at 10:00 am

11/27 - Thanksgiving Break Ends: Halls Reopen at 6:00 pm

12/16 - Halls Close at 1:00 pm for everyone (except graduating seniors)

12/18 - Commencement (Halls close for graduating seniors at 6:00 pm)

SPRING 2022

1/8 - Residence Halls Open at 10:00 am for new residential students to move in

Doors open at 6:00 pm for returning students

3/12 - Spring Break Begins: Halls Close at 10:00 am

3/20 - Spring Break Ends: Halls Reopen at 6:00 pm

5/5 - Halls Close at 1:00 pm (except for graduating seniors)

5/7 - Commencement (Halls close for graduating seniors at 6:00 pm)

Added up, these breaks represent a substantial portion of the academic year that students need to find accommodations for other than the residence hall they are required to live in and pay for.

The goal of this petition is to bring the issue to the attention of the administration and develop solutions for students for whom this is a significant issue.