In an effort to help students find housing during their summer internship, Otterbein University is offering a new housing program that will launch this summer.
The Otterbein University Office of Events and Conferences is offering a 10-week summer intern housing program for eligible students. Interested students must be at least 18 years old and involved in summer research, special projects or an academic internship program in or around Columbus.
“This gives folks an opportunity to be able to find affordable housing and be able to find that short term lease both together,” said Matthew D’Oyly, director of events and conferences. “Most landlords are looking for a year lease and it is not common to find a short-term lease especially in a city like Columbus, so Otterbein wanted to fill that gap for students across the country.”
Registration will be offered until May 7 if rooms do not fill up prior. Once all rooms have been filled, there will be a waitlist offered.
The summer housing will be available from May 28 to Aug. 1. All open units will be suite-style rooms, in which one double room is connected to another double room by a shared bathroom. There will be two housing locations available, DeVore Hall and 25 West Home Street. Each location has multiple lounges, shared kitchens and a free laundry room. Rooms will include a dresser, extra-long twin bed, desk, chair, a closet for each person and air-conditioning. Microwaves and minifridges are not provided but can be rented for an additional $100. Residents will also have access to on-site parking and high-speed internet.
In addition to the $250 non-refundable deposit, cost for summer housing will depend on double or single occupancy, and if the student is staying for the entire summer or per night stay. The minimum amount of time a student must take advantage of is 21 days. For double occupancy the cost is $2,200 and for single occupancy is it $3,000 for the entire summer. For those who won’t need full summer housing, the cost is $35 per night. Payment will be required in full prior to check-in or when the application is submitted. At this time, there is no dining plan offered.
Although D’Oyly said most landlords are looking for a yearlong lease, there are some options in the Columbus area that do offer short-term leases. These are typically six months or less, and sometimes month-to-month. These leases, though convenient, tend to be more expensive, giving landlords some additional compensation for the uncertainty of when renters will leave, or how often a lease may change. The Otterbein summer housing program is an alternative option for students who only need to stay in the Columbus area for a short period of time and don’t want to pay the higher price of short-term leasing for a more traditional rental.
In comparison, senior public relations and communication studies major Tiffany Ly said her rent was $200 a week when she was interning at Walt Disney World.
“We would like the program to grow this summer,” said D’Oyly. “... I think in a few years it would be wonderful to get upwards in the 50s to 100 interns. I think as more people find out about this opportunity, they will take advantage of it.”
Students wanting to participate can fill out the summer intern housing online form. For more information contact Matthew D’Oyly at mdoyly@otterbein.edu or 614-823-1847, or you can visit the Office of Events and Conferences website.
