Record freshman enrollment for the 2008-2009 academic year at the University has left University Housing scrambling to find space for incoming students to live.
As in previous years, the housing department guarantees a room for all incoming students who apply for housing by the March 31 priority deadline; however, the unusually large freshman class seeking on-campus housing has left the University, which can comfortably house 3,600 students, dramatically overbooked, said Allen Gidley, interim housing director.
This year there were roughly 5,000 students who applied by the priority deadline, though Gidley said this number does not accurately represent the number of students who will be living in the residence halls. Historically, he said, many students cancel their reservation, either finding alternative housing or choosing to attend another institution.
Students who did not apply by the March 31 deadline have been placed on a wait list, pending available space.
“University Housing’s priority is to accommodate the people we made offers to, who applied by the March 31 deadline, then all attention will be turned to the students on the wait list,” said Gidley. “The University is exploring ways in which they may assist students who are currently on the wait list.”
Gidley said he will not be able to forecast exactly how they will handle the situation until “the third week of May,” when the department will have more concrete numbers. Even so, it is preparing for the worst by exploring what options are available to house the excess students.
The department has looked at several options to provide enough space for the students, including housing students in lounges and other temporary spaces, placing three students to a room if the room size permits, and assigning residents to room with student staff members. Gidley said they have already eliminated all single rooms that are not “designed singles” or smaller rooms.
Though these are all options, Housing does not have any concrete plans in place for how it will handle the overflow of residents. If the University is using every available space, the facilities can hold around 3,900.
For many students and parents this has created a difficult situation.
Ashley Hardy lives in southeast Portland and plans to attend the University next fall as a freshman. She did not make a housing reservation until April and as a result has been placed on the wait list.
“This is a serious problem,” said Ashley’s father, John Hardy. “(Gidley) really just told me that he couldn’t tell me anything until June or July. So how do you find housing if you come back in June or July?”
John Hardy is upset because he feels the University has done little to aid the students who are left without a reserved space in the residence halls.
“A college has a responsibility, I believe, to kind of take care of this. If they have to arrange for hotels, renting apartments for students,” said John Hardy. “I mean, think about being a parent living in Portland, or not living there, having to negotiate the Eugene housing market.”
Gidley acknowledged how difficult the situation is for students and parents who have not been guaranteed a space.
“We have been swamped with calls,” said Gidley. “It is a tough thing for families to deal with.”
The overflow in housing applicants reflects the large overall student enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year, said Gidley.
This year Oregon has a very high number of graduating high school seniors, said Brian Henley, interim director of admissions. Next year’s graduating high school class will also be very large, but the numbers are expected to decrease in the following years, he said.
In order to maintain overall University enrollment numbers, the Admissions Office pushed to enroll more students this year so that in the next few years as the number of students graduating from high school declines, enrollment will even out, said Henley.
“This is an anomalous year,” said Gidley.
Henley estimates that the University will enroll about 550 more students this fall than it did last year.
The Residence Life department within Housing is preparing its student staff to handle the larger number of students who will be living on campus.
“Even if (the student staff members) don’t start off the year with a roommate, with so many more people living in the residence halls, the possibility for conflict increases,” said Sandy Schoonover, director of resident life.
In response to this, Schoonover said the resident assistants and FIG assistants will have additional training in conflict resolution.
“I’m very impressed with the student staff and the prospective student staff,” said Schoonover. “I really appreciate their willingness to look at options.”
The housing overflow at the University is also starting to affect off-campus housing options.
Duck’s Village is filling up faster this year than previous years because of the University’s overflow.
“We’re definitely booming over here, we’re seeing the repercussions of that,” said Frank Perrone, property manager. “Applications are coming in overflow.”
Kelly Pearson, the site manager at Chase Village Apartments, predicts that it will probably “be hit hard” sometime in the next couple weeks.
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