At least 386 randomly selected sophomores will be denied on-campus housing next year, Resident Life officials said.
Following a last-minute housing crisis that left 639 juniors and seniors out of dorms 45 days before exams last year and the emergence of the longest wait-list since 1980 this fall, Director of Resident Life Deb Grandner said she planned to notify students in an e-mail sent today to those living on the campus that many would join the cast-off ranks.
If trends continue to follow the department's predictions, Grandner said 556 sophomores would most likely be denied from dorm housing next year. In the worst-case scenario 1,003 sophomores would not receive on-campus housing, she said.
Resident Life will most likely turn to lottery system to determine which students will receive spots in dorms. The system would assign students random priority numbers, Grandner said, stressing the idea is still only a possibility, but "the only one we have on the table."
Sophomores and juniors will not be the only students affected by the crunch, however. Resident Life leaders are considering three options for alleviating the demand, some of which have drastic repercussions for older students.
The first would convert vacant, "two-bedroom, two-bathroom deluxe" apartments in University Courtyards into double rooms for reduced rates, creating housing for 70 more students.
The second option would ban fifth-year students and above from renewing their leases in University Courtyards and South Campus Commons.
The third option would limit all new leasing at Commons and Courtyards to current sophomores and allow current freshmen to fill any remaining spaces. Under this option, juniors, already ineligible for on-campus housing, would also be shut out of the university's public-private partnership apartments.
Grandner acknowledged that the third option "would be difficult for [juniors]," but lamented that "decisions to help one group will affect another."
Resident Life leaders are discussing plans to add 1,500 beds on the campus during the next seven years with administrators, and have already received the go ahead to add 400 beds by fall 2009. They are also in the process of requesting another 500 on-campus beds by fall 2011.
During the last eight years, the number of undergraduates housed has increased by more than 2,500, while the undergraduate enrollment has increased only 1,140.
Grandner said a continuing increase in the number of students applying to return to residence halls has fueled the recent housing shortage more than anything else. In fall 2006, 69.4 percent of freshmen and 34.6 percent of sophomores, returned to the dorms. The numbers jumped to 82.3 percent and 39.1 percent, respectively, this fall.
Associate Director for Resident Life Jan Davidson said he hopes Commons and Courtyards can house many of the turned-away sophomores, because 1,200 spots typically open up between the apartments each year.
Davidson acknowledged, however, that competition for spots in the complexes is stiff each year, and said it would be the best option for displaced students "if they're lucky enough to get a space."
Residence Halls Association President Sumner Handy said students are welcome to attend the RHA Senate meeting tonight at seven in the Jimenez Room in the Stamp Student Union, where Grandner will give a presentation about the latest development in the housing shortage.
The senate will also be introducing two resolutions at tonight's meeting. The first says the RHA supports building more housing. The second will send the current priority policy back to the Resident Life Advisory Team, one of RHA's standing committees that Grandner advises, for revamping.
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