New Laundry Machines Throw Campus for a Spin
Campus laundry fees delayed after app malfunctions
July 9, Mississippi College students discovered they would have to pay to do their laundry. Yet, less than two weeks into the semester, free laundry returned. The implementation of paid washers and dryers was stalled due to an app software malfunction, in which many students with Android devices could not use the service. After five weeks of free laundry, the $1.50 per cycle service fee returned.
While the July announcement detailed the perks of new, technology-integrated washers and dryers, only one detail resonated with most students – a new price tag. In recent years, laundry facilities have been readily available to on-campus residents at no additional cost. The new fee was shocking news to many.
A second campus-wide email sent on Aug. 19 only added to the complexity of the situation. “We understand that many of you have been experiencing issues with the new laundry app,” MC Residence Life staff said via email. “We are actively working with Caldwell & Gregory to get these issues addressed. In the meantime, they have switched all machines to FREE mode so you may use them without interruption.”
The laundry app, “Speed Queen,” exists as the only method of payment and allows users to check machine availability, and displays how much time is left on a user’s cycle.
Jonathan Ambrose, vice president for the student experience and dean of students, manages the MC Office of Residence Life. The university official stated that the issue with Android devices stemmed from a software bug that would not connect those devices to the payment system. The dean also noted that the problem extended beyond MC; the contractor, Caldwell & Gregory, has been working on technology solutions for many of their similar models. “It was becoming an inconvenience, and we made the decision very quickly to switch back [the laundry machines] over to free,” Ambrose said.
The timing of the situation played a major factor in the decision to temporarily remove the required payment. “When we signed the contract and ordered the machines, they were being delivered on the Monday of move-in day,” Ambrose said. “It took all week; people were like, ‘We need to wash clothes.’ And then you had all the problems with some machines working with some phones and some machines not, and so we just said, ‘Hey let's just do for free for now, and then we'll make some adjustments once we get word from Caldwell & Gregory whether it's working.’”
When asked about the initial decision to upgrade laundry systems and require a payment, Ambrose pointed to the expiring contract with Caldwell & Gregory. The dean stated that many options were weighed and that the expiring contract was seen as the right opportunity to make the switch.
“When we looked at all the companies and when we looked at the services that are being provided on other campuses, we wanted to make sure that we're providing the best services we possibly can to our students,” Ambrose said. “It was apparent, at least to me, that the services of new machines with the technology would make the overall experience better at Mississippi College.”
Students had mixed reactions to the situation. Alayna Richardson, a senior, expressed her disappointment upon receiving the news and described the upgrades as an “additional expense.” “I pay a lot of money for school already; I could probably go to the laundromat for cheaper,” Richardson said. For upperclassmen like Richardson, the shock of change seems to hit the hardest.
Others described how laundry expenses are the standard among most colleges and that the incoming freshman class won't notice any changes. Some on-campus residents also highlighted the long-term and immediate benefits of the changes. “I can see the practicality; [the app] is very beneficial and saves some time,” Aidan Castillo, a junior, said. Castillo, while not satisfied with the new prices, gives credit to what is arguably the new system’s best feature – the app.
Looking back to the spring semester, data shows that students wanted changes to laundry facilities. In a recent spring survey, conducted by the Student Government Association (SGA), over 67% of respondents described laundry facilities as either always or often in poor condition
Laundry on campus has been an ongoing discussion among student leaders. Before the update was announced, Jace Denson, vice president of the SGA, assisted with an awareness campaign that called on students to take better care of shared spaces – especially laundry facilities. “The Spring Refresh was a campaign to show that we want to take care of the spaces that we all have in common and not leave them in a wreck,” Denson said. “This helped us get trash cans either inside or outside of laundry rooms and just try to keep our laundry rooms very clean.”
The idea of charging for laundry was raised in the spring semester of 2025, yet in a much different way. “[SGA] had the idea of bringing Tide Pod dispensers to each laundry room… and that was more so the idea as opposed to having paid washers and dryers where you still have to get your own detergent,” Denson said.
The proposal to have detergent for sale inside laundry rooms was not unpopular among students. According to recent survey results obtained from SGA, a majority stated that they would give up a few dollars if they needed laundry supplies in a crunch.
While this data gives a small peek into what students were thinking last semester, the discussion is no longer about optional detergent expenses but mandatory fees for the machines themselves.
While the August email did not state when payment would be restored, a school official stated that the change would not happen until the contractors were “absolutely sure” the bug was fixed.
Decision-makers remained hopeful about the situation, believing that the updates would benefit students and the university in the long run. “Time is your most valuable commodity,” Ambrose said. “I'm hoping that the $1.50 gets overshadowed by the time that you're being given back for not wasting your time walking to the laundry when no machines are open or wondering if your clothes are dry, but using the convenience of technology to give you a little bit more time toward the things that students find important.”
As of Sept. 15, laundry machines were still operating in free mode. Campus officials contacted Caldwell & Gregory on behalf of Blue & Gold Media for an update to the situation – the contractor did not immediately respond.
Sept. 16, students reported the systems had been switched back to paid mode.