O -Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations

OFF-CAMPUS LIVING AND NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS

By Mafe Balthazar

Moving o -campus can be a challenging task for USC students in a city that is as much college town as it is a small metropolitan environment. The O ce of O Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations facilitates students’ moving experiences and encourages the preservation of ties to the USC community and student experience.

Students are mostly required to reside on campus their freshman year, and most move o -campus following their rst year due to limited on-campus availability and personal preference. Students face a variety of options and challenges in this venture, which the o ce addresses through educational outreach.

Helping students nd viable living options o -campus is one of the o ce’s goals. A 20-minute O Campus Living Module provides an overview of the sometimesoverwhelming transition. Areas and neighborhoods surrounding the university include downtown Columbia, Cayce, West Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Northeast Columbia and Lexington. Living options within each can be found on a convenient resource that’s speci c to USC and Columbia: GarnetLiving.org. This robust listing site, which also allows students looking to sublet their living spaces to post for free, includes apartment complexes, duplexes, houses and other options.

Tools on the o ce website include a crime map and walkability score that help narrow down housing options for students. The crime map populates criminal activity in a speci ed area and the walkability map details a place’s proximity to campus, shops and restaurants. In transitioning to an o -campus location, these tools help students keep safety and accessibility in mind.

Moving o -campus means students must interact and create living agreements with new individuals. Roommate compatibility can be a big factor in living experiences. Many students decide to live with friends a er their rst year. Those in need of nding new living companions can utilize the o ce’s message board to connect with other students in the USC community. Subleasing and short lease opportunities are also found through the message board.

Students o -campus may also communicate with landlords, other tenants and maintenance teams as part of their new living situations. In navigating these relationships, con icts that arise can be addressed with the help of Student Legal Services if needed. These services are included in tuition and are commonly used to review leases proactively to avoid con icts in the future.

Of the many factors that come with moving o -campus, not being under the umbrella of direct university supervision is one that comes with a lot of responsibility.

“Once you kind of move o campus you’re no longer just representing the university, now you’re kind of a community member at-large,” said Assistant Director of O Campus Living Blair Boozer. The o ce emphasizes the importance of upholding the Carolinian Creed and abiding by the Student Code of Conduct as Columbia residents.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

The o ce’s website lists tips for creating positive neighbor relations and reporting problems within the community. In addition to students’ rights and responsibilities the o ce lists parking, trash and recycling, budgeting and safety resources.

The O ce of O -Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations, in partnership with Garnet Media Group, o ers housing fairs and expos throughout the year as opportunities for students to being their search. It also holds a yearly panel with property managers to connect them with resources regarding students’ well-being and a smoother o -campus transition. Close collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, neighborhood associations, Student Conduct O ce and Student Government provides students a comprehensive guide on how to successfully manage moving o campus. The unit o ers in-person consultations in the basement of Russell House in addition to online resources.

The O ce of O -Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations serves as a liaison between students and opportunities for living o campus, in e orts to help students “have an exceptional living experience,” Boozer said.

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