Struggling economy linked to fewer students choosing to live in on-campus housing

The struggling economy might explain why a record number of beds in UNC residence halls have been left empty this year, housing officials said.

Rick Bradley, assistant director of assignments and communication, said one of the primary reasons living in residence halls has become less appealing might relate to its cost.

“The number of students who have requested to live off campus has increased significantly than years past,” Bradley said.

He said many students’ parents have lost jobs, which forces students to look for cheaper housing options.

“We have allowed students to cancel contracts in order for the students to remain at the University,” he said.

Bradley said there are currently 165 unoccupied beds on North Campus, 208 on South Campus and 61 in on-campus apartments.

He said housing enrollment was increasing consistently until last year, when the offices saw a decrease of 75 students this fall.

“The decline is a concern,” Bradley said.
“We want it to stop from becoming a trend.”

On Wednesday, the department abandoned a plan to stop reserving space on North Campus for freshmen in an effort to increase the appeal of on-campus living for upperclassmen. Officials have said empty beds in residence halls cost the University more than $2 million.

The housing department is being forced to choose between renovating facilities and keeping costs low, Bradley said.

“To improve the facilities to get what students are seeking is done only at a very high cost,” Bradley said.

“It’s hard to do that in a way that it doesn’t become a cost burden for students because they are the ones paying.”

Bradley said the department is planning room improvements such as new lighting, painting and floors in South Campus.

A model room will be open for students to view before they register for housing in the spring, he said.

But many upperclassmen said their motivations for moving off campus related to reasons other than finances.

Senior Anna Davis said she reached a point where living off campus seemed like the best option for her.

“I moved off campus my junior year because I felt like it was my time to leave,” she said.

And freshman Shand Thomas, who lives in Koury Residence Hall, said she is choosing to live off campus next year.

“I just found an apartment to be a more exciting place to live,” Thomas said.

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