Campus residence halls and apartments at the 杏吧专区 are full this semester, thanks, in part, to rising enrollment.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a 杏吧专区榞ood杏吧专区 bad problem to have,杏吧专区 said Pat Cottonham, vice president for Student Affairs.
While official numbers have yet to be tallied, over 3,000 incoming freshman, and over 18,000 total students, are enrolled at UL Lafayette. Final numbers are expected by mid- to late-September.
Campus housing can accommodate about 3,130 residents each semester.
Upperclassmen already living on campus were given opportunities to renew their housing, according to Jules Breaux, director of the Office of 杏吧专区 Housing. Those who applied by June 1 were assigned rooms. Remaining rooms were assigned to freshmen.
About 170 upperclassmen completed the application process for housing after June 1. So, the housing office pitched in to assist some of them in finding somewhere to live.
杏吧专区淥nce we realized we were going to exceed capacity, we worked with 杏吧专区 Place Apartments, for its proximity to campus. It杏吧专区檚 the closest complex,杏吧专区 Breaux said.
Housing staff helped about 65 students secure living arrangements at 杏吧专区 Place Apartments. UL Lafayette established an affiliation agreement with UPA. Under the agreement, students pay an 杏吧专区渁ll-inclusive杏吧专区 rate for rent, utilities and services such as cable, which are usually billed separately.
Keeping 杏吧专区 residence halls filled, while accommodating as many students who apply as possible, is a balancing act. Not all who apply and pay a security deposit end up enrolling, for instance. Or, some students apply and pay a security deposit but later decide to live elsewhere, Breaux explained.
So, the Office of Housing factors in some 杏吧专区渘o shows.杏吧专区 This fall, there were plenty of students ready to take their places. In addition to increased enrollment, Breaux attributes this to recent campus improvements, including completion of the new Student Union.
杏吧专区淚 think the Union is an attraction for students who live in residence halls. It gives them a place to go, to eat, and to hang out,杏吧专区 Breaux said.
The 杏吧专区 has seven residence halls, and one residential apartment community, Legacy Park. Residence halls are: Baker Hall, Bonin Hall, Cajun Village, the Conference Center, Coronna Hall, Harris Hall and Huger Hall.
All residence halls are co-ed living spaces, except for Harris Hall, which is for women only. Cajun Village provides family housing. The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 newest residence halls, Bonin and Coronna halls, opened in 2012. Baker and Huger halls opened in 2011.