University Residences to begin fall semester at 103 percent capacity

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University Residences will open the 2015-16 academic year with close to 300 student residents housed in temporary spaces.

“As we have been working with individual students and keeping them notified by email and phone, we have guaranteed a space for all students with signed housing contracts in order to deliver the benefits of living on campus to every student who chooses to take advantage of it,” said Mike Shettle, University Residences director of administration.

University Residences has opened additional regular and temporary spaces to maximize housing capacity by utilizing on-campus apartments and the Union Club Hotel at Purdue Memorial Union, and setting up temporary spaces in residence hall lounges, study rooms and irregularly shaped rooms.

The temporary room rate will be the lowest cost to students in the Purdue housing system, no matter where the space is located, with the rates adjusted accordingly as students are moved to regular space when it becomes available.

This transition process will begin during Boiler Gold Rush week, so some students will spend only a few days in temporary housing. Because of the number of students in temporary spaces this year, the entirety of the transition will continue for much of the fall semester.

“University Residences has not been this full at the beginning of an academic year since 2008. For us, it is a message that we are doing things well and students want to live on campus,” said Barb Frazee, executive director of University Residences. “The academic integration, the new hall typologies and the emphasis on learning-centered living are making a difference.”

University Residences has hired a housing transition coordinator and additional resident assistant (RA) staff to help students in temporary spaces, and moving assistance will be provided and coordinated by UR staff.

In anticipation of busy dining courts, Purdue Dining & Catering plans to extend the hours of On-the-GO!, the carryout meal and snack operation inside Earhart, Ford and Windsor Dining Courts, to close at 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. Dining & Catering will also offer incentives in its residential retail locations to help offset the increased traffic.

“Over the years, Purdue has had many students begin their university careers with positive experiences in temporary housing, and the department has dedicated additional resources to ensuring student success for every resident who calls University Residences home,” Frazee said.

For more information, contact Shettle or Frazee at 765-494-1000.