Adult and Commuter Connection newsletter - March 2009

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

LEASING INFORMATION

2-3

ROOMMATE TIPS

4

SEARCHING FOR AN APARTMENT

5

ST. PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES

6

CAMPUS EVENTS

8

SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST: • Leasing Agreements Workshop • Off-Campus Housing Website • Women’s History Month • CSA & ASA Updates • March Madness • Pinnacle

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6

A D ULT & C O MM U T E R C O N N E C T IO N MARCH 2009

ADULT & COMMUTER CONNECTION

Page 2

Are You Ready to Sign a Lease?

Negotiating a Lease Make a list of what you want included. Research to find out what is reasonable to expect and/or request.

Because laws vary per state, make sure you are informed about what is legally negotiable.

Study the lease and highlight areas you want to negotiate. Formulate clear reasons for changes.

Don’t forget: the rent-due date, your move-in date, and what will be fixed before you arrive.

Expect compromise. It’s part of negotiation.

Treat the leasing manager/staff with respect.

Provide documentation to support your credibility as a renter, such as a good credit report.

Make sure to get it all in writing once agreed upon.

Adapted from: http://apartments.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/ Ya&sdn=apartments&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ehow.com% 2Fhow_717_negotiate-apartment-lease.html

Which Type of Lease?

Fixed-Term v. Month-to-Month Fixed-Term Lease: The most common leasing arrangement. Fixed-term means you agree to live in the apartment for a specified amount of time, usually one year.

When the time is up, you can only stay in the apartment if you renew the lease. You and your landlord can negotiate the duration of your fixed-term lease. Be careful, though; breaking this lease early can cost you money.

Month-to-Month Lease: A more flexible arrangement. The lease renews each month unless you tell the landlord not to. If you’re not sure how long you’ll be living in an apartment or if you want to be able to leave at any time, this is for you. Typically, you have to give a landlord 30 days notice in order not to renew a lease. Be aware that your landlord has the ability to not renew your lease at any time, too.

Adapted from: http://apartments.about.com/od/ leaseshouserules/a/fixedormonthly.htm

Renter’s Insurance Why do I need renter's insurance? surance. Sometimes having more than one policy with the In case any of your furniture, electronics, or belongings get same insurer can get you a "multi-line discount." damaged. It also covers you if someone sues you over something that happens in your apartment.

Will I get enough money to replace my stuff?

That depends on your policy. ACV coverage pays for the Do I need this if my landlord has insurance? market value of your property at the moment before it was Yes. Your landlord's policy doesn't cover the items that you damaged. Replacement cost coverage pays you the full keep inside your apartment, and it doesn't protect you if a cost of getting a new item to replace what was destroyed. guest sues you.

How can I save money on renter's insurance?

How much does renter's insurance cost?

Shop around to compare. Don't get more coverage than Renter's insurance costs roughly $10-$25 per month. You you need. Go with a high deductible. Ask your insurer may also be able to get discounts. about discounts. Pay the total annual premium in one payment rather than in monthly payments.

Is a good renter's insurance policy hard to find?

Not at all. Many insurers offer it. If you already have insur- Adapted from: http://apartments.about.com/od/moneybudgeting/qt/ ance, ask your agent whether you can also get renter's in- rentersinsfaq.htm

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6

Page 3

Guarantor? What’s that?

What's a guarantor?

A guarantor is someone who signs a lease with you and takes on your financial obligations under the lease. This means that if you don't pay the rent on time, the landlord can come after the guarantor for the money.

How will I know if I need a guarantor?

Your landlord will tell you if you need a guarantor.

Some landlords are quick to require guarantors because doing so adds another layer of protection to ensure the landlord gets the rent. Other landlords require guarantors only if prospective renters don't meet their income tests.

Who usually signs a lease as a guarantor?

Very often, a renter's parent acts as a guarantor, assuming the parent is in a sound financial situation. If you can't get a parent to be a guarantor, the next best bet would be a relative or friend.

What if I can't find a guarantor?

If a landlord requires a guarantor but you can't find one, you'll probably need to look for an apartment elsewhere. It may also be a good time to review what you earn and what you can afford, Is a co-signer the same thing as a guarantor? and create or adjust your budget accordingly.

Yes. You may hear your landlord/broker use the Also, keep in mind that if you decide you want to term "co-signer" instead of "guarantor." live with a roommate, your roommate may be able to find a guarantor if you can't.

What will my lease say about a guarantor?

Adapted from: http://apartments.about.com/od/ It depends on the landlord, but every lease is slightly different. Make sure you and your guaran- guarantorsfaq/Guarantors_FAQ.htm tor read any relevant language carefully before signing your lease.

ACSS Seminar #3

Understanding Lease Agreements Facilitated by Michele Harris, Crye-Leike Property management

Does all this legal mumbo-jumbo make your head spin? If so, you’re not alone!

Leases can be confusing. Come check out our upcoming workshop to learn more about what to look for in a lease.

Details are on the left.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Brister 220 10:20 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Call (901) 678-2644 or visit our Web site (www.memphis.edu/acss) for more information.

Also, if you want more information about housing in Tennessee, check out the following website: http://www.tennlegalaid.com/Library/ Index/1000004#1000004

ADULT & COMMUTER CONNECTION

Housing Fair Vendors 2 Men & A Truck Appling Lakes at Cordova Club Belle Harbour Campus View Properties Canterbury Woods Collierville Properties CORT furniture Estates at River Pointe First South Tiger Banking Center Fogelman Properties Georgian Woods Greenbrook Apartments Island Park Apartments Kirby Station Apartments The Landing Apartments Lincoln at Wolfchase Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) Poplar Place Townhomes Stratum on Highland Town House Apartments University Cabana University Crossing The Venue

Page 4

Roommate Tips Having roommates can be great. They can provide companionship, convenience, savings, and general help around your home. But good roommate relationships don’t just happen by accident. They take effort on both sides. Here are some tips to help you have a positive roommate experience.

It’s not always a great idea to room with a close friend.

Often, this ends up in conflict rather than fun. If you want to live with a friend, it’s a good idea to sit down beforehand and talk it through.

You may find that you have very different assumptions about apartment life.

You shouldn’t choose a roommate just because you’re both in a similar situation, such as attending the same college or moving away from home. Convenience doesn’t equal a perfect roommate relationship.

The best roommates tend to be people you know but aren’t necessarily close to, such as an acquaintance or a friend of a friend.

If used with caution, the Internet can be a great place to find a roommate. You can use the message boards on the ACSS Off-Campus Housing Website (www.memphis.edu/offcampushousing) to connect with possible roommates. See page 5 for more information.

Before you sign a lease with a roommate, you must make sure you agree on financial issues. Most importantly, you must decide how much you'll each contribute to the rent and utilities and how much you'll budget toward other apartment expenses. This should all be put in writing.

Source file: http://apartments.about.com/od/roommatesneighbors/a/ findaroommate.htm

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6

Page 5

Making the Most Out of Your Apartment Search Apartment hunting can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips to keep your search low-stress: 1. Know what you want. Before you look at apartments, take time to decide what you want in an apartment. Ask yourself questions such as: • • • • • • • •

How many bedrooms and bathrooms do I need?

How much closet space do I need?

How important is size?

How important is location?

Are any features important, such as a good view, a washer/dryer, or built-in shelves?

Where will I park my car? Where can my visitors park their cars? Where can I put my bike?

What amenities are important to me?

Are pets allowed?

Use these questions to decide what your limits are. Don't waste time checking out listings that don’t fit your criteria.

2. Stay focused and don't get discouraged. When you start feeling frustrated, try remember how excited you were when you started your search, and try to imagine how happy you'll be once you find the right place.

3. Set realistic goals and expectations. Few people will tell you that they found the perfect apartment without any effort. Expect to invest significant effort in your search.

4. Create a plan of action with your roommate(s). If you're both too busy to see every listing together, decide how you'll split things. Perhaps you'll alternate the days each of you look at listings, or you'll each be responsible for dealing with different brokers. If only one of you sees an apartment and it seems acceptable, you can both return to see it later.

5. Stay organized and take good notes. Once you start to see several apartments, it's easy to get them confused.

Take good notes about the places you visit, and keep it organized. Use an accordion file to hold any brochures, advertisements, floor plans, listings, photos, or other printed material you have.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Choosing a place to live is a serious matter. If you don't like the answers you hear or suspect that the broker/landlord isn't being honest with you, move on. Also, if you get an opportunity to talk to a tenant, use it. Ask them questions about what they think of the place.

How U of M Women Are Taking the Lead in Saving our Planet Women’s History Month Roundtable Discussion Date: March 31, 2009 (Tuesday) Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Location: Panhellenic Ballroom Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn more about how women from the University of Memphis are doing their part to help our campus & community become more sustainable. Women from several different departments will come together to talk about how they are involved and to offer suggestions for students who are interested in ways they can help.

ADULT & COMMUTER CONNECTION

Page 6

St. Patrick’s Day Recipes AUTHENTIC IRISH SODA BREAD

CLOVER COOKIES

2 cups white flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 4 Tbsp. butter, chilled 1 cup raisins 1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup butter at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract Green food coloring

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine dry ingredients.

2. Cut in the butter until it is pea-sized. Stir in the raisins and buttermilk/yogurt. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, knead 1 minute, and shape into a disk.

3. Cut an "X" in the top and bake on a greased baking sheet for 45 to 50 minutes. Makes one 8-inchwide loaf.

1. Measure flour, baking soda and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Stir well and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with a mixer for 1 minute. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

3. Gradually add flour mixture to butter and sugar, mixing well after each addition. Dough should be stiff.

4. Add several drops of green food coloring. Knead dough until color is evenly distributed.

5.

Gather dough into two balls; flatten into disks beCORNED BEEF STEW 1 can tomato soup ginning at edge of dough and working toward cen1 small onion, chopped ter. Cover with plastic and chill at least 2 hours or 1 16-oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables overnight.

1 can corned beef 1 envelope dry French onion soup mix 6. After dough has chilled, place half on a large Salt and pepper to taste piece of plastic wrap, cover with another piece of plastic wrap and roll until it is 1/4-inch thick. Lift off 1. In a Dutch oven, mix all ingredients (feel free to top sheet of plastic wrap and cut out shamrocks, add any leftover vegetables you have on hand), and beginning at edge of dough and working toward 2 soup cans-full of water. Bring mixture to a boil. center.

2. Reduce heat to low and simmer approximately 1 7. Place each shamrock on an ungreased baking hour, stirring 2 or 3 times. sheet. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 8 minutes or until edges begin to lightly brown. Remove to a Source file: http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/ rack to cool. For extra decoration, use green canstpatday_sf/ dies or frosting.

Makes about 34 cookies.

St. Patrick’s Day Word Scramble __________ aperclnuhe

________ chakmors

_______ wibaron

_______ dielrna

_____ gerne

___ __ ____ lof tg oopd

______ lorvce

_____ cipnh

Answers (from left to right, top to bottom): leprechaun, shamrock, rainbow, Ireland, green, pot of gold, clover, pinch

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6

Page 5

MARCH MADNESS 2009 Be sure to support the Tigers in this year’s NCAA basketball tournament!

Cheer them on, all the way to the Final Four in Detroit!

Selection Sunday: March 15 Round 1: March 1919-20 Round 2: March 2121-22 Sweet 16: March 2626-27 Elite Eight: March 2828-29 Final Four: April 4 National Championship: April 6

GET INVOLVED! Commuter Student Association (CSA) Do you live OFF campus? The CSA will be holding a general meeting on March 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the Panhellenic Building, room 100. If you’re a commuter student, this is the group for you!

Come by the ACSS office (500 Wilder Tower) for more details.

Web site: www.memphis.edu/commuterstudents

Adult Student Association (ASA) The ASA will be holding a Web 2.0 workshop on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:30 p.m. in the FedEx Institute of Technology Building in Room 226. Academic Technology Consultants Kristy Conger and Joanne Gikas will conduct the workshop, which will inform students about free online applications such as wikis, blogs, Zoho/Google docs, and more. Free pizza and soft drinks will be served. If you’d like more information about membership, events or meetings, email Kristy Conger at kconger@memphis.edu or stop by the ACSS office (500 Wilder Tower).

Website: www.memphis.edu/adultstudents

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Pinnacle Honor Society

March 2009 03/05: Pi Beta Phi Karaoke Night. 7 p.m., Rose Theatre.

If you received a letter of invitation to join Pinnacle, congratulations! Don’t forget to turn in

03/07: Tiger Basketball v. Tulane. 12 p.m., FedEx Forum.

your registration by March 6!

03/07: Kappa Kappa Psi Step It Up. 10 a.m., TBD.

All new members of Pinnacle will be inducted during a ceremony on April 18, 2009. The keynote speaker will be Dr. David Cox, Executive Assistant to the President.

03/05: SAC Wall Brick Painting. 4 p.m., Panhellenic Bldg.

03/11-03/14: CUSA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

03/17: St. Patrick’s Day. 03/17-03/19: SAC Foreign Film Festival. 7 p.m., Psych. Aud. 03/18: Lease Agreements Workshop. 10:20 a.m., Brister 220.

03/20: SAS Hunger Meal. 7 p.m., Pan. 115.

03/21: The Aristocats. 2 p.m., Johnson Auditorium.

03/22: U of M Choir Concert. 7:30 p.m., Harris Concert Hall.

03/25: Off-Campus Housing Information Fair. 10 a.m., Rose Theatre.

03/25: Kalai. 8 p.m., Tiger Den.

Pinnacle was created to recognize the efforts of non-traditional students who excel in higher education. Want more information? You can find it here: http://www.memphis.edu/acss/ pinnacle.php.

03/27-03/31: SAC Tunnel of Oppression. 8 a.m., Pan. Bldg.

03/29: Gospel Choir Concert. 7:30 p.m., Harris Concert Hall.

03/30: SAC Opening Wall Ceremony. 12:30 p.m., SA Plaza.

03/31: WHM Roundtable Discussion. 10 a.m., Pan. Ballroom.

ADULT & COMMUTER STUDENT SERVICES Director: Joy R. Stout 500 Wilder Tower 208 Brister Memphis, TN 38152 Phone: 901-678-2995

MISSION The mission of the Adult and Commuter Student Services office is to provide a supportive environment for non-traditional and commuter students that promotes intellectual, social and academic growth and development through services and programs that foster lifelong learning.

or 901-678-2644 Fax: 901-678-4894 E-mail: acss@memphis.edu

Visit our website at:

www.memphis.edu/acss/

CONTACT AND GENERAL INFORMATION The Adult and Commuter Student Services office is located on The University of Memphis campus on the 5th floor of Wilder Tower. Our regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. If you need after hours help, please call us to make arrangements.

A Tennessee Board of Regents Institution An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University

We welcome comments, questions, or suggestions. We can be reached by phone at 901-678-2995 during our regular business hours or after hours leave us a message on voice mail. You may also reach us through e-mail at