Survey asks WSU Vancouver students who travel near and far of the impact it has
The college experience at WSU Vancouver is unique in the fact that students do not live on campus. Since WSU Vancouver is a satellite campus, students have no option but to commute to campus. Maureen Mullens, for example, a strategic communication major at WSU Vancouver, commutes from Kent, Washington every day she has class (see the March issue of The VanCougar for the full story). That is a nearly six hour commute.
This begs the question, how do other students at WSU Vancouver feel about their commute to campus? The VanCougar randomly surveyed 50 students to find out.
“Transportation costs students money and time, two objects students cannot afford,” a Bellevue College article, “Commuter Costs: The True Cost for Students” wrote. Ultimately, 78 percent of surveyed WSU Vancouver students said they do not think that commuting to campus takes away from their overall college experience. Contrasting this, 18 percent of respondents said commuting did negatively impact their college experience. The remaining four percent of respondents selected “other” and had the opportunity to fill in their opinion regarding the impact their commute has on their college experience.
Of this 18 percent, only one student reported driving more than 30 miles to campus, with a majority of respondents reporting a commute of up to 20 miles and an average travel time of 20 minutes. 12 percent of surveyed students reported having a 30 or more minute commute to campus.
How do VanCougs commute?
90 percent of respondents drive or use a car to get to campus. Six percent reported using public transportation like C-TRAN, with two students stating that using public transportation presents a 30 minute or longer commute. Four percent of students walk to and from campus.
According to the WSU Vancouver website, C-TRAN’s #19 Salmon Creek bus route stops off campus near the start of the WSU Vancouver trails. WSU Vancouver students, faculty and staff are eligible for the C-TRAN BackPASS, which according to the WSU Vancouver website allows for, “unlimited access to C-TRAN local and limited bus service.” Students can learn more about the C-TRAN BackPASS in the Student Services Center.
Do commuting VanCougs support having dorms on campus?
Given that a majority of students drive to campus or may need to purchase a bus pass, getting to campus can come with a price tag some college students rather try to avoid. 58 percent of students surveyed voted yes to dorms being built on campus, even those with a seemingly shorter commute.
Benellen Camacho, a psychology and human development junior who commutes less than 10 miles to campus, said he supports dorms at WSU Vancouver. “Dorms allow students to be more interactive and involved with each other,” he said. “So dorms would be a great addition to the Vancouver campus.” Camacho also reported on his survey that his commute negatively impacts his college experience.
Freshman arts major Catherine Clark commutes approximately 30 minutes to campus. She said she supports the idea of dorms at WSU Vancouver, but has concerns about the implications that dorms might bring. “I like not living on campus,” Clark said. “Some schools make living on campus a rule for freshman and I prefer to live at home.”
This practice is implemented on the WSU Pullman campus where freshman are required to live on campus their first year. According to the “Housing Waiver Instructions for First Year Students” provided by WSU, this requirement is credited towards supporting new students. The document explains, “The state of Washington and Washington State University are committed to supporting its new students as they make the transition to college life. Therefore, all single undergraduate freshmen under 20 years of age are required to live in organized on-campus living groups for one academic year.”
Clark’s concern is one that students may also feel hinges on the price tag that comes with having to live on campus. According to the WSU’s 2018-19 estimated yearly costs, housing and dining on the Pullman campus, for a Washington resident, is upwards of $10,000. The site also states that “Residence halls range from $6,696 (double-room rate) to $10,268 per academic year. Costs vary by residence hall/apartment lease.” Commuting comes with the price of gas, vehicle upkeep and the potential bus pass, yet when compared to the cost of dorm-life, to some, the commute price tag becomes that much more appealing.
The survey revealed that while students may face a lengthy commute, or even a short one, the majority do not feel that it negatively impacts their college experience. Several surveyed students noted they would not want to be forced to live in campus dorms, preferring an option to continue living off campus, with others showing complete support for the addition of dorms to the commuter-focused WSU Vancouver campus. However you get here and however long it takes, travel safe and go cougs.