With Texas Tech’s rapidly growing enrollment numbers, rumors have ranged from there only being 50 rooms left on campus to the residence halls already being full.
Bledsoe Hall is located towards the front of campus. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons.
Incoming freshmen have nothing to worry about, according to Sean Duggan, managing director of University Student Housing. Duggan said the residence halls are already very full, but there will be a place for everyone who wishes to live on campus.
“There are about 200 spaces available right now,” Duggan said during a phone interview. “But we expect some cancellations over the summer.”
Duggan said there have been roughly 900 more students apply for campus housing compared to this time last year. With what is expected to be the biggest freshmen class Tech has ever seen, ideas on expanding university housing in the future have already begun to take shape. Duggan said the new West Campus Village, which will house upperclass students over the age of 21, will help free up rooms in traditional student housing.
West Campus Village is expected to be completed for the fall 2014 semester. Duggan said although there are no definite plans for building more residence halls in the future, the idea is not out of the question.
“With the goal of having 40,000 students by 2020, it’s something we will have to consider,” Duggan said.
The Hub@TTU reporters Alicia Keene and Abbie Arroyos asked the director of Tech Building Maintenance and Construction, Lonnie Evans, if abandoned Weeks Hall would be a possibility for future housing. He said it would cost more than $50 million to renovate, demolish, or abate the asbestos in the derelict building for it to be usable.
Duggan did not seem concerned about the housing situation for the next school year, and is optimistic that the campus will continue to grow with the growing student body.
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