Dear students,
in the pages that follow you will discover a tool designed to outline the numerous student services available to you and open yet another channel of communication between ERSU and the population it serves.
This new guide represents the culmination of the initiatives carried forward by Ersu's Board of Directors and head offices in Sassari over the past three years. A lot of work has been put into optimizing the Agency's services and improving its facilities in full collaboration with the Regional Committee.
The goals that were set have been fully reached, as demonstrated by Miur data published in national level press. In fact, Sassari's Ersu ranks second (behind Siena) among mid-sized universities in terms of student services offered. In 2007-08, for the first time, scholarships were awarded to all eligible students and 544 beds became available, thus fully covering the current need. The same accomplishment was replicated in 2008-09.
Our current aim is to provide 1000 beds in total for a population of 16.000 registered students. Recent statistical analysis conducted to estimate potential demand for university housing has highlighted that as the quality of services offered increases so does student's preference for Ersu's residential accommodations over private rentals. Our facilities offer considerable amenities, including internet access.
Furthermore, the quality of cafeteria services offered in Sassari is excellent. There are two operative cafeterias: in via dei Mille (serves 400) and in via Padre Manzella (serves 150); the latter was re-opened in October 2008 at the end of a carefully thought-out renovation process that lasted five years.
Once construction in via dei Mille is complete, a new floor and various self-service venues seating 200 will also be available. Furthermore, several spaces designed for leisure activities and socialization of students will be built.
In an effort to make information clearer and more readily available, an Ersu website has been set up. It outlines all our services and allows students to apply online for selection processes (concorsi) for scholarships and housing.
Moreover, Ersu promotes numerous cultural activities and entertainment events with the aim of encouraging students' participation in university life as well as their integration with the socio-economic reality of the city beyond. We firmly believe that such initiatives, which often take place right in Ersu- run facilities, contribute to granting Sassari a “college town” image, lively and stimulating, interesting to both local Sardinian students and to those coming from mainland Italy and foreign universities.
We therefore invite you to “get to know us better” and help us further improve Ersu's services with your valuable input and suggestions.

We wish you all a productive year of studying and university experiences.

Maria Grazia Piras
Director of Sassari's Ersu