Dear Students and Parents,
Very recently, the McNeese Housing Office (Ambling) informed us that the University has decided to close Collette dormitory for the summer of 2006 in order to repair damages done to it during Hurricane Rita.
As a result, the only accommodation that the University can offer the Governor’s Program is in the “new” dorms which are “apartment-style” rooms in a suite arrangement. Also, the amount of beds they are offering for use by the Governor’s Program is extremely limited at this time.
Because of this situation, we would like to make certain aspects of the living arrangements very clear to you:
1. Due to space limitations, the GPGC will not be isolated in any way from other camps and college students. There may be children from camps and college age adults living in close proximity with GPGC students (but not in the same suite).
2. As far as it stands right now, all GPGC students (male and female) will be on the same floor of the assigned dormitory. There is no physical division between male and female rooms in these new dormitories.
3. Many of the familiar aspects of dormitory life that GPGC students have been accustomed to (such as a lobby) will not be available this summer. The staff will attempt to provide other activities in other locations but dormitory life will be very very different than in recent years past.
4. Certain rules will be enforced extremely strictly this year. Students will be dismissed from the Program immediately if they enter a suite or room assigned to the opposite gender, or if they leave the dormitory without permission.
5. The rooms provided are different from the rooms in Collette. You may see a floor plan on the web at: http://www.mcneesereslife.com/floorplan2.asp?plan=B. They include en suite bathrooms that students will be expected to keep clean (there is no custodian service in this dorm) as well as a good deal more furniture. Students will be responsible for whatever damages happen in the rooms that they are assigned to. This furniture seems like it can be more easily damaged than the furniture in Collette.
6. These rooms cost more than the rooms at Collette. The extra cost per student is approximately $350 for the seven week session. We will not increase our fees for this summer but we do ask you to help offset these extra costs with a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Governor’s Program if you are able to.
7. We understand that some of you may be uncomfortable with these arrangements. We would like to stress that no effort will be spared to keep students safe and secure throughout the summer. However, that will require a student body that is willing and able to follow the rules that we set forth for this summer. If you and/or your student does not think that he or she will be able to be responsible, courteous, and tolerant throughout the summer please strongly reconsider your decision to attend the GPGC this summer. We will have a limited staff and will not have the time to try to work with students that like to challenge authority, mistreat others, and /or rebel in destructive ways. Incessantly misbehaving and disruptive students will be sent home.
8. For local students we are planning to offer a day-student option for this summer only. Dormitory space is at such a premium that we feel obligated to offer this option. Please let us know at the office immediately if this option appeals to you. It will include a housing fee reduction for this summer.
Most importantly: at this point McNeese has promised us only 45 beds for students (and 5 for counselors). We are appealing this decision and we hope that we will get more beds. However, it is vitally important that you confirm (and/or reconfirm) your desire to attend the GPGC this summer by April 7th. We will most probably have to turn away students so please consider your decision carefully.
I know this news about the dormitory situation may be disappointing to many of you. All of us are disappointed. However, we knew that there would be hardships and challenges to be met when we committed to holding the 2006 summer session. This dormitory situation is not the ideal but it is workable for most of us. We plan on having a productive, fun, and exciting summer but this will require all of us, faculty, students, and parents striving together with that goal in mind. We hope that you will choose to join us and share in the joy and satisfaction that will come from collectively overcoming the obstacles produced by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
If you have any questions about this situation please feel free to contact me by email, principal@gpgc.org or call me at the office (337-475-5446).
Sincerely,
Joshua D. Brown
Assistant Director, GPGC