For the Fall semester, the Department of Resident Life may utilize a number of "flex" triple and quad rooms, along with a small number of triple and quad lounges. This page is intended to answer questions about these assignments and explain why this is necessary for the fall semester.
What exactly does the assignment "Flex Triple", "Flex Quad", "Triple Lounge" or "Quad Lounge" mean?
For the past several years, the Department of Resident Life has followed a plan that has identified a number of rooms that could be converted from doubles to triples in the event that it was determined we would need to increase our inventory temporarily in order to accommodate a higher than expected number of students. These "Flex" rooms provide us with a cushion to manage housing occupancy demands that cannot be anticipated yet still allow us to offer housing to the highest number of returning residents. If numbers do not require us to increase our inventory, these rooms do not get "flexed" and remain as doubles. If they do require us to increase our inventory, we can "flex" up to accommodate the anticipated number of spaces we would need for opening. Additionally, a small number of lounges are set aside that can be converted into triples or quads to also accommodate students in desirable buildings on campus. These rooms offer us some flexibility to deal with the changes in housing demand each fall for new students.
Why are students being assigned into “Flex” or “Lounge” assignments in the first place?
Students are assigned into "Flex" and "Lounge" spaces when Resident Life has more students seeking housing in residence halls than we can currently accommodate for the Fall semester. Each spring, Resident Life is informed of the enrollment target for new freshmen students and subsequently makes housing decisions for our returning students based on these targets. With a high demand for campus housing, more students can be accommodated by using "Flex" and "Lounge" spaces.
What will these rooms look like?
Many of these rooms have been used before as triples. With the changing enrollment patterns over the last decade, we have adjusted our spaces up or down based on housing demand among our new students. Our "Flex" and "Lounge" rooms are not intended to help us get more students in our halls in general, it is meant only as a response to larger numbers of new students than anticipated. A good source of information regarding triples and quads in general may be viewed here.
Our "Lounge" rooms are converted study spaces that come fully furnished and provide most of the same amenities student rooms would offer in a larger setting. It is not unusual for these spaces to be popular among residents due to the building locations and added space these locations often provide. All students assigned to "Lounge" rooms will be required to move out of those spaces at the end of the fall semester.
How long will these spaces be used?
Resident Life anticipates using these spaces for the fall semester only. Students assigned to flex triples and lounges for the Fall semester will not remain in those spaces for the Spring semester. "Flex" spaces will only be used for Spring semester if all students in those rooms wish to continue to remain together. Resident Life may be willing to consider these situations on a case by case basis. If it becomes necessary to continue the use of lounge rooms for the spring semester, new students will be assigned to those spaces in all cases.
Which students are being assigned into these spaces?
For the most part, students assigned into these "Flex" or "Lounge" rooms will be new students who submitted their housing agreements after the May 1 priority deadline, as well as a small number of students who submitted housing agreements in late April.
When and in what manner will students expect to move out of these spaces?
Students assigned into "Flex" or "Lounge" spaces will receive instruction in late October or early November about how they can request reassignment out of these spaces. The last student assigned to "Flex" rooms (those occupying the 3rd bed space) will be those expected to move mid-year, although if another student desires a move, Resident Life will consider that option. If all students are in agreement that they wish to continue to stay in the "Flex" room for the Spring semester, Resident Life may be willing to consider that on a case by case basis.
Students assigned into "Lounge" spaces will not be permitted to remain in those spaces beyond Fall and will be required to move to other locations for Spring. Resident Life will ask for information from these residents to assist in their reassignments.