Any student who currently lives off or is considering moving off campus is invited to attend. Attendees will learn how to better prepare for living off campus at the Off Campus Living Workshop to be held 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the Arkansas Union Theater. Although it may seem early, students who are thinking about living off campus for Fall 2016 should begin making arrangements now.

The workshop will educate students about rental applications and leases, landlord/tenant rights, city of Fayetteville codes, and more. This workshop is intended to reduce students' stress in moving off campus and to promote responsibility in their new role as members of the local community.

Sami Belford is a program assistant in Off Campus Connections and a senior who has lived off campus for three years.  "No matter how long you've lived off campus, there is always more to know. Just this year I learned that Fayetteville charges for waste removal based on the size of trash container you have. I had been using the container already at my duplex when I moved in, but I could have saved $5 each month if I had downsized to a smaller container", said Belford.

"Off Campus Connections was asked to share off-campus living information for several University Perspectives classes last fall, so we decided that holding a workshop in a central campus location for all students to attend would be a good idea," said Samantha Higgins, assistant director for the department.

The University of Arkansas requires first-year students to live on campus, with few exceptions. University Housing is still accepting contracts for upperclassmen to live on campus. As students advance in their collegiate career, they tend to move off campus into apartments and other rental properties in the local community. 

Off Campus Connections is hosting the workshop and will detail how to search for local off campus housing on the university's official off-campus housing website, offcampushousing.uark.edu. A second workshop on the same subject will be held April 13 for students who are unable to attend this one.

Off Campus Connections will also host the Off Campus Living Fair in the Arkansas Union International Connections Lounge on Wednesday, March 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The Off Campus Living Fair is held each semester and involves partner properties from the Off-Campus Housing website and community/university partners that specifically relate to living off campus. Representatives will visit with students about housing options available, money management, off-campus meal plans, transportation, legal, safety, ordinance and good neighbor information. The educational fair will offer better prepare students for off-campus life. Many student prizes will be awarded to those who visit the various tables at the fair.

For questions about the Feb. 3 workshop, please contact graduate assistant, Margaret Hindman at 479-575-7351 or email Margaret at occ@uark.edu.