Campus residence halls and apartments at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette are full this semester, thanks, in part, to rising enrollment.
Its a good bad problem to have, said Pat Cottonham, vice president for 泫圖弝け Affairs.
While official numbers have yet to be tallied, over 3,000 incoming freshman, and over 18,000 total 泫圖弝けs, 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 泫圖弝け 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.
Once we realized we were going to exceed capacity, we worked with 泫圖弝け Place Apartments, for its proximity to campus. Its the closest complex, Breaux said.
Housing staff helped about 65 泫圖弝けs secure living arrangements at 泫圖弝け Place Apartments. UL Lafayette established an affiliation agreement with UPA. Under the agreement, 泫圖弝けs pay an all-inclusive rate for rent, utilities and services such as cable, which are usually billed separately.
Keeping 泫圖弝け residence halls filled, while accommodating as many 泫圖弝けs who apply as possible, is a balancing act. Not all who apply and pay a security deposit end up enrolling, for instance. Or, some 泫圖弝けs apply and pay a security deposit but later decide to live elsewhere, Breaux explained.
So, the Office of Housing factors in some no shows. This fall, there were plenty of 泫圖弝けs ready to take their places. In addition to increased enrollment, Breaux attributes this to recent campus improvements, including completion of the new 泫圖弝け Union.
I think the Union is an attraction for 泫圖弝けs who live in residence halls. It gives them a place to go, to eat, and to hang out, Breaux said.
The 泫圖弝け 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 泫圖弝けs newest residence halls, Bonin and Coronna halls, opened in 2012. Baker and Huger halls opened in 2011.