Below is a collection of odd and interesting facts about University Housing over the past 30 years.
- Parietal rule suspended for sophomores in fall 1979 and for freshmen fall 1980. (The rule required students to live in residence halls.)
- Fall 1980 rented 74 spaces in Mayflower Apartments; fall 1981 rented 422.
- Board of Regents continued suspension of parietal rule through academic year 1983-84 in January 1981.
- Fall 1981 rented six corridors in the Mayflower Apartments totaling 422 beds. Additionally an Oakdale campus building was converted to a residence hall with a capacity of 58 beds.
- Fall 1982 rented seven corridors in the Mayflower Apartments totaling 475 beds.
- On April 20, 1983 sold $7.5 million in Dormitory Revenue Bonds, Series 1983, for a net interest rate of 7.7991 percent. $6.5 million of the proceeds were used to purchase the Mayflower Apartments. The balance of the proceeds plus $1.5 million of funds on hand were used to make repairs and improvements to the Mayflower over the next two years.
- Took possession and began renovation of Mayflower Apartments June 1, 1983.
- Board of Regents continued suspension of parietal rule through academic year 1986-87 in January 1984.
- Board of Regents continued suspension of parietal rule through academic year 1991-92 in fall 1987.
- The fifty mobile homes at Hawkeye Park were abandoned during the summer of 1988. All units and appliances were sold at auction in August 1988.
- South Quad rented to the University beginning fall 1988, reducing occupancy by 76 spaces.
- New class credit hour levels are instituted by the University—students with 0 to 29 hours are considered freshmen and with 30 to 59 are considered sophomores for fall 1990.
- Currier Residential Dining closed, end of spring semester 1991.
- Stanley Hall converted from female only to coed beginning fall 1991.
- Board of Regents continued suspension of parietal rule through academic year 1996-97 in November 1991.
- On September 23, 1992, the Board of Regents authorized the sale of $6,325,000 Dormitory Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series S.U.I. 1992. Proceeds from the bonds were used to refund, in advance of maturity, the Series 1983 bonds.
- June 1, 1993, students wre no longer to have a spouse and/or dependent(s) living with them to live in Family Housing.
- June 1, 1993, Family Housing name was changed to Family Housing/University Apartments.
- On July 5, 1993, Mayflower Residence Hall—with a design capacity of 1,033—was closed for nearly three months due to floodwaters from the nearby Iowa River. It was closed for the duration of the summer and into the fall, necessitating a delay in the opening for fall occupancy.
- Fall of 1995, the zero-tolerance policy was established for illegal drugs.
- Fall of 1996, IMU opened a convenience store in Mayflower Hall-Mayflower Market.
- On July 1, 1997, University Housing assumed financial responsibility for the maintenance of the grounds immediately surrounding University Housing’ facilities.
- Summer of 1997, Quadrangle Hall telecommunication/Ethernet improvements were completed.
- June 1, 1998, Family Housing/University Apartments' name was changed to University Apartments.
- The installation of fire protection upgrades and a suppression system began with Mayflower hall in the summer of 1998.
- Fall of 1998, desk lamps were no longer provided to residence hall residents unless requested.
- May of 1999, Quadrangle Public Cafeteria closed.
- Fall of 1999, telephone instruments were no longer provided to residence hall residents.
- Fall of 1999, Iowa Memorial Union opened a satellite Residential Dining operation in Mayflower residence hall—MC's Café.
- Fall of 2000, residence halls become substance (drug) free.
- Fall of 2000, Hillcrest food service renovation completed and new market place concept opens.
- January 2001, Ethernet wiring completed in all residence halls.
- Fall of 2001, Parklawn became the tenth residence hall.
- January of 2003, University Housing opened a convenience store in Hillcrest called Hawkeye Express.
- January of 2004, Hillcrest Market Place changed from traditional serving hours to continuous service from 6:45 a.m. to 7p.m., Monday through Friday.
- January of 2005, Burge food service renovation completed and new market place opens. Burge Market Place goes to continuous service.
- July 1, 2006, Residence Services changes its name to officially become University Housing.
- October 2007, ground is broken for Burge addition on the Northeast corner (courtyard). The addition is scheduled to house approximately 100 students in suite-style rooms on the upper floors and University Housing administrative office space on the ground floor.
- On June 14, 2008, the Iowa River crested during the Flood of 2008, a 500-year flood (definition: a 0.2% chance of a given area flooding). Unlike 1993, water got into the first level of Mayflower Hall (Two and a half feet) and we thought it would need to be closed for at least first semester if not the whole year. Once we were able to get into the building, University Housing found the damage to be very extensive, but with the support of the University and its president, FEMA, and the UI insurance company we had the ability and resources to make necessary repairs in order to open in Fall of 2008. Prior to the flood, staff and volunteers worked non-stop to sandbag around Mayflower (up to 8 feet high in some places). We believe these efforts-although not stopping the water caused more of a "controlled fill" than in 1993, when water and debris came rushing in all at once (lower/basement level only). In addition, the Iowa River flooded the Coralville Strip, and water rushed down Mormon Trek Boulevard into the back side of Hawkeye Court Apartments, making evacuation a necessity. 76 apartments were lost for fall occupancy due to flooding.
- Summer 2008, due to complications from the flood of 2008 (i.e., Mayflower closed, power outages, steam outages, chiller outages, and available space in Hillcrest being used to house displaced Hawkeye Court residents), approximately 40% of summer conferences were cancelled, including Orientation parents and students. Sports Camps (one of our biggest clients) were held, but had a 2-week "cancellation period" during the middle of the season by mutual agreement between Athletics and Housing.
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