Housing Officials Prepare for Freshmen
UA housing officials are having to think ahead for how students will be housed with the large number of students on campus next year, an official said.
“We have around 4,500 new freshman and a total of 24,500 students coming in the fall,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for Enrollment.
Extra rooms might be used if there are more students than rooms.
“In the past, we have used Humphries and Yocum study lounges as overflow rooms,” said Florence Johnson, executive director of University Housing. “The rooms are equipped for the technological needs of students and there is furniture already set aside to make the rooms livable.”
The study lounges in Humphries and Yocum will be used as overflow rooms again in the fall if needed, Johnson said.
“UA Housing is keeping in close contact with UA Admissions to watch the number of contracts coming in, as well as the number of contract cancellations,” Johnson said.
Signing contracts online is currently closed for continuing transfer students, Johnson said. “We were uncomfortable in allowing anymore of these students to contract at this time, though new freshman may still contract,” she said.
Two new residence halls are planned to be completed by fall 2013 to help house the expected number of students on campus.
“Hotz Hall will hold 416 beds,” Johnson said. “The second dorm we are building is Founders Hall, on McIlroy Avenue. It will hold 214 beds, 250 dining seats and additional retail food vendors,” she said.
The number of returning students for fall 2012 is similar to the number of returning students from fall 2011, Johnson said. “With the two new living facilities being built in the next year, we expect to see an increase in the number of upperclassmen able to live on campus in the future.”
