With the continuous rise of students enrolled at Tarleton State University, the need for more housing has been met with the construction of Mustang Ranch, a new apartment complex close to campus. Unfortunately, some students are facing confusion in regards to TSU housing requirements and leasing options for Mustang Ranch. 

First and second year students are required to live on campus, or within university-sanction housing, as part of an initiative instituted a few years ago. According to a Residential Report provided by Residential Living and Learning this initiative has created positive results for first and second year students.

“Research shows that students who live on campus have higher satisfaction with their educational experience, perform better academically, and persist with their education,” the report stated.

Mustang Ranch is the newest option for students looking for housing options, but first and second year students are not able to fulfill their on-campus housing requirements by leasing with  a new apartment complex. Angela Kitchens, General Manager of Mustang Ranch, addressed the potential confusion.

“There is a rumor that is going around that we’re with Tarleton Housing. We’re not. We do not have a master lease with Tarleton,” Kitchens said.

This means that students who are looking to live off campus need to make sure that they have met all requirements to do so. Shelly Conboy-Brown, Associate Director of Residential Living and Learning ,remarked on the efforts being made to help students understand their options.

“We need to have extensive communication with our students, and communication within different entities within the community so that we’re all working together to provide the best possible service to the students,” Conboy-Brown said. “We’ve sent out letters and emails making sure that students understand that there is a requirement, so that they know what they need to do to be able to live off campus.”

Even though Tarleton and Mustang Ranch are separate entities, each has worked to make sure that students understand that there may be obligations in place, and that students wanting to live off campus need to check that they are allowed to do so. 

Students who find themselves double contracted face a variety of consequences, some with more impact than others. 

Upon signing a contract with Mustang Ranch, students have 72 hours to nullify the agreement. If the student finds that they need to be released from the contract after the allotted period of time, they must pay 85 percent of a month’s rent, as well as find someone to fill the vacancy. 

If a student believes they are able to live off campus but later finds that they are not, their on-campus housing options may be limited.

From several different voices, on and off campus, students are being advised to research and understand their housing options before making plans that might affect their future at Tarleton.