An email from housing Thursday afternoon said students can cancel their housing contract and live off campus next semester if they are sophomores or older.

In past years, the university required all freshman and sophomore students to dorm on campus. Under this policy, students could only move off when they were juniors.

The email informed students that housing is “filling up rapidly” for the fall 2023 semester and offered students their $200 back to cancel their housing contracts and pursue other housing options.

David Taylor, the senior director for University Housing said the email went to any student that is currently living on campus and would have been required to live on campus next semester; however, the eligibility rule is not permanent.

“This is being treated as an extenuating circumstance exemption, so the university policy is still on the books,” Taylor said. “Think of it as a temporary lift of that requirement.”

The temporary requirement exception is to be sure there is enough room for students.

“We keep an eye on it and we take appropriate steps whatever that looks like,” Taylor said. “This is one of those, by making sure we have an appropriate number of spaces for fall.”

Housing has also taken steps to increase the number of students that can live on campus next semester. The current capacity is 5,744 but next fall it will be 6,050.

“For fall with running Verder Hall as a traditional residence hall,” he said. “We’ve also tripled a modest amount of rooms. Some of the larger rooms in the Centennials and Stopher Johnson area, we’ve added about 300 bed spaces back to our inventory.”

Current sophomore accounting major, Olivia Dumpp, was upset to hear about the new policy. She had planned to live off campus with a friend for the current academic year but was not able to because of the requirement.

“It’s a dumb requirement to live two years on campus,” Dumpp said.

Sophomores used to be able to get out of dorming by saying they were a commuter or uncomfortable living with someone due to COVID-19. The recent changes make it much easier for sophomores to get out of their housing contract.

Sophomore photography major Colten Kee lives on campus in Stopher Hall and said he thinks this is a good option for students.

“It’s good that that’s an option now,” Kee said. “Giving more options is good.”

He said he assumed that living on campus was required for sophomores in years prior so the school ensured they were making money.

Kee said he would have lived in a dorm this year anyway because he enjoys being on campus.

Freshman exploratory major Daina Akstens lives in Manchester and was already planning to live off campus next semester.

“Living in an apartment will be better for my roommate and I anyways,” Akstens said.

She said living off campus will end up being cheaper for her than the cost of university housing and a meal plan.

She questioned the university for accepting students they cannot accommodate in dorms.

“I think it’s kind of weird that they’re accepting so many freshmen and don’t even have housing for it,” Akstens said.

Kiki Molesky is a current sophomore aerospace engineering major living in Centennial Court C for the remainder of the semester and plans to live off campus next semester.

Molesky explained the overwhelming process of finding an apartment and said it can be stressful for a freshman.

“I didn’t know how to get an apartment in my second semester as a freshman,” Molesky said. “I’m trying to figure out how to pay for it and what’s good in an apartment and what’s bad in an apartment.”

For students who are interested in living off campus, looking into apartment complexes needs to be done fast as places fill up.

“If this is of interest to a student, do not delay,” Taylor said.  “That way wherever they live in fall, it’s where they want to live.”

Savana Capp is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].