For the fall 2011 semester, students that have not yet registered for their dorms may have to look for alternatives for on-campus housing. This shortage of university housing, which includes residential apartments and Greek houses, has resulted in a waiting list that has reached a number of approximately 200 applicants.

“The past few years we have had a waiting list, but this is one of the biggest ones that I can remember,” said Robin Rodrigue, director of marketing and strategic initiatives for Auxiliary Services. “We just have really high demand for student  housing. Our facilities are top-notch. We’ve got a really good reputation as far as the facilities themselves and the amenities that come with them.”

According to Rodrigue, next semester’s increasingly high demand for housing on campus can be attributed to several variables. These variables are very diverse and include high enrollment numbers, high retention rates of upperclassmen and rising high gas prices.

Students who are placed on the waiting list are priorized according to the time they submitted their applications. Students must send in a completed housing application, a nonrefundable room prepayment fee and processing. A student’s application is not considered complete until all of these requirements have been met.

Students with priority will be allowed to move into their dorm or apartment as rooms become available. The fees paid during the application process can only refunded if housing placement cannot be found. Rodrigue, based on past experience, thinks that some students on the waiting list won’t have to wait too long.

“Rooms will definitely become available,” said Rodrigue. “As always, we will have cancellations. Also, people that are currently on the waiting list may decide not to live on campus.”

 According to Rodrigue, the University Housing staff is equipped to effectively place as many students that the housing facilities will accommodate.

Applicants who still wish to be placed in campus housing are asked to submit the necessary paperwork and fees as soon as possible, as space is extremely limited. Students that have been issued a university ID number and password are able to apply on LEOnet under the “Self Service” tab’s “Apply for Housing” link. Student can also view their housing eligibility  on the same page.

Currently there are 10 residence halls, apartments and Greek houses on campus. For now, there are no specific plans on building additional residence halls to accommodate the high demand from students.

For more information about student housing you may call the University Housing department at 985-549-2118, e-mail them at [email protected] or visit their office located inside Pride Hall.