It’s four weeks into spring semester, and UW-Platteville students are searching for housing for the next academic year.

Students gathered in Ullsvik Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 3 for the university’s semi-annual Housing Fair. Velzy Commons had tables set up with different area landlords available at each one. The landlords offered students information on houses and apartments available for fall 2010.

“The fair has provided a lot of valuable information for me,” sophomore biology major Tory Wetter said. “I was beginning to think I would commute but this has made me realize there are still a lot of options out there.”

The Office of Rental Resources, located in the Pioneer Involvement Center, started the program bringing local landlords and students together two years ago. The program has been held once a semester and it is planned to continue in the future.

“The turnout is usually around 200 students. It’s a great opportunity for them,” Tricia Reuter, coordinator of Rental Resources, said.

The purpose of the Housing Fair is to aid students in finding houses and to make sure students are prepared to rent by informing them of their rights as renters. Reuter offers students further assistance in the Office of Rental Resources.

“It’s a relatively new program that not a lot of students know about yet so we’re trying to get the word spread,” Reuter said.

For more information on off-campus housing opportunities for next year visit the Office of Rental Resources Web site at reslife.saf.uwplatt.edu/ri/.