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Strong enrollment causes housing challenges |
| By
Kim Harvey |
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Aug 28, 2008
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A positive problem has Jo Campbell scrambling this week.
The director of residence life and her staff have arranged alternate housing spaces for 267 students as enrollment rose among the new student population.
According to Campbell, 109 students are staying at the Clarion Hotel on Secor Road, less than two miles from Main Campus. Ninety-eight students have been placed in lounge areas in the Academic House, Carter Hall and Parks Tower. Another 60 students have alternate residences in McComas Village Greek community.
“We’re telling the affected students this could last for a few weeks, or it could be the entire semester,” Campbell said. “We’re in the process of evaluating how many students who were supposed to move in haven’t shown up yet. There are always some, even if you call them repeatedly over the summer.”
Campbell said overflow situations have occurred in previous years, with students residing in the Clarion Hotel and nearby apartments when on-campus space was unavailable.
“Obviously, our admission staff has done an outstanding job,” Campbell said. “We had some students join us during Rocket Launch and Rocket Transition programs this summer. Last week brought in a large number of students, as well.”
Residence Life offices, which were open Saturday and Sunday last weekend, remained busy with new student arrivals.
“People were just walking in,” Campbell noted. “Many were newly admitted, and they just kept coming.”
Students have adjusted well to the alternate space arrangements.
“In the lounge areas, it was as simple as taking the lounge furniture out and bringing the bedroom furniture in as a temporary solution,” Campbell said. “At the Clarion, the parents were a little anxious, but two grad students from our staff are staying, so we have a presence there.”
Regular shuttle buses are running between the Clarion and Main Campus. Campbell said the students’ on-campus meal plans remain in effect.
Each student in an alternative space arrangement has been charged the minimum amount — $2,688 — this semester for housing services.
Campbell said the displaced students should be back in one of UT’s nine residence halls by the beginning of next semester, noting that a number of students depart between semesters due to financial and academic reasons.
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