Fairfield University Students: Beachside Living

Fairfield University is a residential campus with around 5,000 full-time undergraduate students, most of whom live on campus. However, the university also guarantees housing for four years, and students are allowed to live off-campus during their senior year. The Fairfield Beach area is a popular off-campus housing destination for students, with around 400 seniors moving into homes on the beach each year. The university provides students with a guide on Living at Fairfield Beach, which includes information on how to be a good neighbour and respect the surrounding community.

Students can only live on the beach as seniors

Fairfield University is a residential campus with around 5,000 full-time undergraduate students, the majority of whom live on campus. However, students are permitted to live off-campus as seniors, with around 400 choosing to live on the beach close to campus each year.

Living off-campus is a privilege that is not granted to all students. In their junior year, students can enter their names into the "Off-Campus Boarders" lottery, which is held in October. To be eligible for the lottery, students must be in good academic standing and must attend a mandatory OCB meeting. The number of students allowed to live off-campus is based on the "least economic impact".

Students who are not selected in the lottery can apply to change to "commuter status", but this is not automatically granted, and commuters must live with their parents or guardians within 35 miles of the campus.

The university has a guide called "Living at Fairfield Beach", which is distributed to students living on the beach. It contains information on being a good neighbour, such as keeping noise levels down and keeping the area clean. The university also provides beach clean-up equipment and contributes to law enforcement in the area.

Living on the beach is a longstanding tradition for Fairfield University seniors, who often move into their beach houses at the beginning of a new school year.

Fairfield Beach is a popular off-campus housing destination

Students are required to live on campus for their first three years, but in their junior year, they can enter a lottery to live off-campus in their senior year. The lottery is based on the least economic impact, and slightly fewer than 400 seniors are usually released to live off-campus.

Living off-campus at Fairfield Beach is an attractive option for students due to its proximity to the beach and the town of Fairfield's amenities. The town is described as a "charming coastal town" with beaches, marinas, parks, shopping, and fine dining. It is also within 50 miles of New York City.

However, town-gown relations have been strained in the past due to issues such as high rents, loud parties, and the annual SantaCon party, which resulted in fights, extreme drunkenness, and garbage being left in the neighborhood. The university has been working to improve relations by participating in stakeholder meetings and contributing to community initiatives, such as providing garbage cans to rental homes in the beach area and organizing student-led beach clean-up efforts.

Students must be released from campus by the Office of Residence Life before signing a rental lease

Fairfield University is located in a charming coastal town, and the beach is a popular off-campus housing destination for students. The university guarantees housing for its undergraduate students for all four years, but students can choose to live off-campus as seniors. Before signing a rental lease, students must be released from campus by the Office of Residence Life. This process involves participating in the ""Off-Campus Boarders" lottery, which is held in October of their junior year. To be eligible for the lottery, students must be in good academic standing and attend a mandatory OCB meeting. The university releases a limited number of students to live off-campus, based on the least economic impact.

The process of securing off-campus housing can be competitive, with students often needing to put down deposits as early as their sophomore year to secure their desired location. The rental market in the beach area is lucrative, with high rents and a high demand for properties close to the beach and the Seagrape bar, a popular student hangout. Students typically share houses with three other roommates, and the rent can be comparable to the cost of room and board on campus.

The university actively works with the town, police, and local residents to maintain positive town-gown relations and address any issues that may arise from student housing in the beach area. This includes distributing a guide, "Living at Fairfield Beach," which provides information on being a respectful neighbour, noise ordinance rules, and other relevant information. The university also employs two full-time employees to coordinate with off-campus boarders and serve as advocates for the students while also reporting any arrests or tickets to the dean of students.

Students who choose to live off-campus are expected to be respectful of their neighbours and the surrounding community. This includes following the university's guidelines for gatherings at the beach, being considerate of noise levels, keeping their yard clean, and communicating regularly with their neighbours. Overall, the university aims to foster positive community relations and ensure that students understand their responsibilities when living off-campus.

The university provides a Living at the Beach guide to help students integrate smoothly into the community

The university provides a "Living at the Beach" guide to help students integrate smoothly into the community. The guide was created in 2021 and is distributed to all students and residents in the beach area as part of a welcome packet. It includes information on the various neighborhood and landlord groups, emergency contact details, and noise ordinance rules.

The "Living at the Beach" guide offers tips on how to be a good neighbor, such as introducing yourself, offering a welcoming gift, being mindful of noise levels, and keeping your yard clean. It also provides safety tips for off-campus living, including emergency resources and crime prevention advice.

In addition to the guide, the university also offers an Off-Campus Living Guide, which covers topics such as how to be a good neighbor, and emergency resources. The university encourages students to wait until they are released from campus by the Office of Residence Life before signing a rental lease.

Fairfield University is committed to fostering positive relationships between students and the local community. The university has actively participated in stakeholder meetings with town administrations, police and fire departments, resident associations, landlords, and other local officials to plan and coordinate efforts. The university also contributes to the local economy and encourages students to participate in community service projects.

Students are expected to keep the beach clean and be respectful to neighbours

Students at Fairfield University are expected to keep the beach clean and be respectful to their neighbours. This is facilitated by the university's "Living at the Beach" guide, which is distributed to students as part of a welcome packet. The guide contains information on how to be respectful of neighbours and the surroundings, as well as information on the beach clean-up schedule and the off-campus handbook.

The university also organises weekly clean-up efforts along the beach, with Sunday morning beach clean-ups being a long-standing tradition for students.

In addition to the guide and clean-up efforts, the university has implemented other initiatives to promote respectful behaviour among students living on the beach. For example, the university has delivered garbage cans to rental homes in the beach area and has enhanced law enforcement presence on weekends to support a safe and respectful environment.

The university's efforts to promote respectful behaviour among students extend beyond the beach as well. For example, the university encourages students to be considerate of their neighbours' lifestyles and needs, such as maintaining quiet evenings if they have young children. Students are also encouraged to communicate regularly with their neighbours and offer help when needed.

Overall, the university takes its role as a responsible and engaged neighbour seriously and strives to minimise any disruption caused by students living on the beach.

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