University Residences to house record number of on-campus students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the second year in a row, Purdue University Residences will open the school year with over 100 percent occupancy, including the added capacity of the new 804-bed Honors College and Residences.

The stage was set when a record 48.3 percent of 2015-16 residents chose to return to on-campus housing, the highest number of returners since 1999. That was followed by a record number of new students who contracted for housing before the May 5 guaranteed housing deadline.

“We will be able to house all students who contracted by the deadline,” said Mike Shettle, University Residences director of administration. “However, additional on-campus housing contracts through the summer will be limited.”

In order to accommodate as many late applicants as possible, University Residences will open two wait lists on Wednesday (June 1), one for first-year students and the other for transfer students. As cancellations occur throughout the summer, individuals on the wait list will be contacted with instructions on how to apply for on-campus housing.

In addition to the UR wait lists, students still seeking housing are encouraged to contact the Purdue Off-Campus Housing department within the Office of the Dean of Students through http://www.purdue.edu/odos/offcampus/

Like last fall, 300-400 students will be assigned to temporary and auxiliary space. Some temporary housing will be very short term, such as in the Union Club Hotel at the Purdue Memorial Union. Guest apartments, residence hall lounges, and study rooms will be converted for intermediate-length stays of several weeks, while on-campus apartments will be set up as auxiliary space for the full fall semester.

University Residences will again provide transition coordination, residential life programming and staff, and moving assistance to those students in temporary and auxiliary housing.

“Students in temporary housing last fall reported an overall positive experience, many even requesting to remain in their temporary housing all year. These positive experiences and the high return rate tell us University Residences is an outstanding living option for all students,” said Barb Frazee, executive director of University Residences. “Students take advantage of the academic integration opportunities and the convenience of living on a residential campus.”

Purdue Dining & Catering has several initiatives to help offset the increase in campus diners, including extended hours in its dining courts, totaling close to 40 additional hours per week with three dining courts serving continuously from breakfast to dinner. There will also be more options to use meal plans outside of dining courts, including extended hours in On-the-GO! locations, a new takeout option at Hillenbrand Dining Court, and meal swipes accepted at the Daily Bite food truck. Dining & Catering is also opening three new retail operations on campus, including Così in the new Honors College and Residences.

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

Source: Barb Frazee, 765-494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue.edu