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Being off campus sometimes allows for a different atmosphere than being on campus.
Students may end up somewhere quiet with nonstudent neighbors, or they could find they
are somewhere with a majority of students, and it can be distracting. It is helpful to think
through each area and who the general occupants are to get a gauge on the area.
Year-Round Housing
If students plan to stay in the Clemson area over the summer for work or class, already having
an apartment can make that process much easier. Remind your student the importance of
asking about lease dates up front to see if they meet up with your student’s plans.
Space
In some apartment complexes space can look very different. Each room may be a different
size and may make rent a different amount for each roommate. Thinking through the
different spaces and what types of furniture will be necessary are things to help your
student think about before making the decision to live on or off campus.
Cost
There is the possibility that the cost of living off campus could be equal to, or higher than, the
cost of living on campus. Students need to consider their portion of the rent, initial deposit,
first and last month’s rent, cost of food, utilities, cable, internet, furniture and appliances,
laundry costs, and transportation to and from campus. Many of these expenses may not be in
one bundle as they are with on-campus options.
Parking and Transportation
Students should consider how they plan to travel to and from campus. We encourage students
to check the availability of public transportation, purchase a commuter parking pass if
parking on campus, determine shuttle and bus routes, and/or determine if their apartment is
in reasonable walking distance from the University. They also need to take into consideration
the time of day they will be making their commute.
Safety
Encourage students to examine the safety features of their new environment. How is access
into the area controlled? Is the area well lit? How far will they have to walk from public transit
or where they park to their apartment? What policies are in place that encourage safety?
GRADUATION
HOW TO STAY INVOLVED
Whether or not your student has found their niche at this point of their college experience,
it is important your student remains connected. You will probably see your student shift
their priorities within an organization. They may take a leadership role or consider taking
a back seat since they have already given their time. They may have been very involved in
their sorority and social life, and now they may be focused more on their internship and
academic groups that contribute to their major. Your student has grown and matured in many
ways during their time at Clemson so far. As a young adult, your student has gained more
experience and learned how to navigate through circumstances on their own.
UPPERCLASS STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TRADITIONS
Clemson RingWeek
Ring Week takes place during the first few weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters. This is
a time when currently enrolled students, who have completed 90 or more earned hours on
their academic transcript (not degree works progress report), as well as graduate students
who have applied for graduation, can purchase their Clemson Ring. During Ring Week, the
LeadershipWeek
Leadership Week is a weeklong, student-focused celebration at Clemson geared toward
exploring topics related to inclusive excellence, collaboration, leadership for social change,
career readiness and self-exploration. Students are invited to participate in any number of
sessions offered by campus departments, student organizations and community partners.
Volunteer Consultations
Students interested in engaging with our local community can reach out to our Community
Leader Development team to schedule a volunteer consultation. Students will complete
a brief inventory about their interests, availability and access to transportation. Then
a member of our team will follow up for a brief conversation to connect students with
community agencies in need of volunteers!
MOVING OFF CAMPUS
The decision to move off campus can bring a new sense of independence for students but may
also bring a new set of challenges. The following are a few things to discuss with your student
if they decide to move off campus. While we recognize it may come down to personal reasons
for whether your student chooses to live on or off campus, students are encouraged to live on
campus at least through their sophomore year:
Independence
When living in a residence hall, students must follow certain policies established by the
University for the safety and well-being of all residents. Living off campus provides freedom
from some of these policies and allows students to set their own standards in line with
community standards. It is helpful to remind your student that where they are looking to
live will also have policies they should become familiar with. Clemson students are held
responsible to follow our community standards whether they live on or off campus.
Responsibility
Signing a lease, paying rent and utilities,
commuting to campus, cooking and cleaning
will help students develop responsibility.
This responsibility will also begin to build
the student’s rental history. On campus, there
are support systems students have access to
within the residence halls that can be helpful
in navigating conflicts, whereas, these
systems may be less accessible when living
off campus.
Environment
Students living off campus may often have
non-student neighbors. This provides
students the opportunity to interact with
many different types of people, such as
working professionals, couples and families.
It can also be helpful to talk about what may
happen away from the immediate campus
community. While living next to non-student
residents can be beneficial, students must remember these neighbors may be less tolerant
of some college student behaviors. Students will need to be mindful of who they live near.
Though the privacy of an apartment may be nice, students need to consider how isolated they
may begin to feel without a community of students surrounding them. These students may
have to work harder to stay engaged on campus and with friends once they move off campus.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT:
MOVING OFF CAMPUS
We can guess that this may be the first
time your student signs a lease for
an apartment, or you may be signing
a lease on behalf of your student.
Either way, take the time to review the
lease together. This is a great learning
opportunity for your student to gain
some “real-world” experience.