Campus housing availability

Renovations in Camino and Founders Halls cause a first-year housing shuffle 

Mikaela Foehr / News Editor / The USD Vista

Although the University of San Diego is growing in population, its on-campus living situations do not reflect it. With a two-year on-campus living requirement, consistent enrollment growth, and the closing of two first-year living spaces, the fall of 2020 will be a logistical feat for Residential Life to accomplish.

According to USD enrollment data, the student body grows by roughly 60 students each year. This has resulted in a growth of over 1,000 undergraduate students in less than 20 years. The last two years consisted of a spike in first-year enrollment, placing  stress on housing availability. 

Currently, students are finishing applications for on-campus housing in the next academic year, with applications closing Feb. 28. Next year will be especially complicated with the closing and renovation of Camino and Founders Halls for the entire academic year. 

According to the Department of Residential Life’s website, students who would have been in Camino will live in the San Antonio de Padua (SAPs) living space, and students who would have been in Founders will be added to the Valley B living space. This is impactful because SAPs is a residence area normally open to second-year and higher students, but over the last few years, it has been used as an additional first-year housing area. 

This rearrangement begs the question of whether all of the first-year students will fit in their living spaces, especially if the trend of larger enrollment numbers continues. This year already saw unorthodox living arrangements in the form of a first-year student being placed in non-traditional first-year living space, and the placing a handful of students in the Pacific Ridge Apartment complex across the street.

First-year-transfer student Lauren Basso was placed in the Alcalá Vista Apartments. Although Basso is not experiencing the Living Learning Communities (LLCs) that the university wants first-years to experience, she is pleased with her living arrangements.

“The Vistas are nice, and it is great to have a kitchen and living room, I am so happy that I was assigned there,” Basso said. “I am not disappointed at all that I’m not in normal freshman housing because I am happy with my roommates and it isn’t too far of a walk.”

On top of the potential housing shortages for first- and second-year students, third- and fourth-year students also have the ability to keep living on campus, although it is not guaranteed. Jasmine Diaz, a junior living in Manchester Village, is currently experiencing the stress of trying to secure housing. 

“It’s been pretty stressful not knowing if we are going to be able to keep living on campus because realistically, I cannot afford to live off campus,” Diaz said.

Diaz and her roommates will not find out until the beginning of March if their application will be accepted, and until then all they can do is wait. 

“On top of the already stressful process, we know that the school keeps over-admitting so that makes us even more nervous,” Diaz said.

On the other side of this issue are current first years who feel that they should have priority in housing choice due to the two-year residency requirement. Jenny Han, a first-year student living in Founder’s Hall, has apprehension about the school’s housing process, despite being excited for the second-year living arrangements.

“How do we know that incoming freshman won’t affect sophomore housing?” Han said. “We’re mandated to be on campus too so I feel like we should have priority, especially compared to upperclassmen.”

Despite the apprehensions felt by students applying for housing, junior Sam Hixon, a Resident Assistant, is confident that everyone will be able to enjoy their living situations.

“The students and people living in communities are what make them great places to live, and regardless of housing logistics I don’t think that will change,” Hixon said. 

Brandon McCreary, Director of Residential Administration, echoed Hixon’s positive outlook.

“While these admission spikes strain our systems, they are good for the university,” McCreary said. “We are excited for next year and are as prepared as we can be for the inevitable challenges.”

McCreary specified the housing rearrangements for the next academic year, explaining how all doubles in Valley B will be modified to become triples. This is to try and maintain USD’s emphasis on LLCs as a way to create community and campus connection. In terms of housing priority, McCreary explained that first- and second-year students have priority, but the school does its best to fit all students who want to stay on campus.

“We want to keep people on campus if they want to live here, but unfortunately for upperclassmen we have had to start implementing a first come first system,” McCreary said.

If students have further questions about logistics, policies, or deadlines, the office of Residential Life is located in Mata’yuum Crossroads. Residential Life encourages students to speak to their Residential Assistant who can direct them to knowledgeable people on the topic in question.