In the fall semesters of 2018 and 2019, some freshmen found themselves without a dorm room to call their own. Instead, the university temporarily placed them in floor lounges until enough rooms opened up to accommodate everyone.
The university is now hoping to eliminate the threat of overcrowding on-campus housing again, as they plan to have about 3,000 more beds available in August.
This year, over 100 freshmen were placed in overflow housing as McNutt and Foster residence halls were closed entirely for renovations after being overrun with mold in the 2018-2019 school year. This came even after the university required all upperclassmen to move off campus, a controversial move.
IU freshman Benjamin Morales discusses his experience living in a floor lounge in Forest Quadrangle during the fall semester. The university moved Morales into a traditional dorm room in January.
The university is also keeping a careful eye on their fall enrollment numbers. However, it is hard to know exactly how many freshmen will ultimately accept their admission offers.
“Enrollment management is really and art and a science, and so we’re always trying to figure those things out,” said Chuck Carney, the university’s Director of Media Relations. Between August 2018 and August 2019, freshman enrollment saw a slight increase from 8,184 students to 8,287 students.
August is set to see the re-opening of McNutt and Foster in the fall, as well as the final wing of Teter Quadrangle. By 2021, North Hall, an entirely new residence hall, is expected to open to students.
“I don’t want to say never, but it appears that the overcrowding and overflow situation in the past will probably be a thing of the past,” Carney said.
