Immense improvements were implemented by Miami University over the summer in response to the student overflow that caused problems last year, according to Lucinda Coveney, director of housing contracts and meal plans.
The improvements were made in Hepburn, Havighurst and Wilson halls.
No barracks style housing exists for anyone this year because the university has done a lot of work in temporary housing spaces, making them both nicer and more comfortable, she said.
"We have been working really, really hard to make sure everyone is comfortable," Coveney said.
According to Coveney, all first- and second-year students are assigned to a regular room at this time.
For now, there are only five students living in temporary housing, who are transfer students and students who were late to confirm they were living on campus. They are all male students living in Hepburn Hall.
"We know that we will have them out within the first week," Coveney said.
According to Coveney, more privacy and storage has been provided in temporary spaces, making it a much more comfortable living environment.
"It's a very temporary situation," said Larry Fink, assistant vice president of housing and auxiliaries.
There are currently 357 more students confirmed for on-campus housing than last year at this same time, Coveney said. Although the number of students in housing is about 100 more than had been forecasted, there was time to plan for the increase.
According Fink, planning for the summer improvements began over a year ago because they were aware that the size of the first-year class would increase.
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"It was careful planning," Fink said. "It's all about planning."
Fink said the massive improvements that were made in order to assure all first-years and sophomores had a permanent room required a lot of work.
"It's like a giant puzzle," he said.
Coveney said the housing is generally split about 50 percent for first-year students and 50 percent for upperclassmen. There are currently 15 upper-class residence halls, 13 first-year halls and 7 mixed halls, she said. Students also have the option of living in Heritage Commons.
Coveney said the university wants to be able to offer third- and fourth-year students the ability to select their rooms early and have some priority.
Fink said housing these students requires a formula that is worked through each year, depending on the changing size of the first-year class.
According to Tony Conrad, the first-year adviser in Havighurst Hall, ten additional rooms were created in the basement of the hall over the summer by improving space that was not being utilized in the basement.
According to Fink, the final cost for the improvements made in Havighurst was $275,000 and improvements in Hepburn totaled less than $12,000.
The project at Havighurst was a comprehensive construction project that involved an architect and contractors, Fink said. Consisting of a mix of singles and doubles, the rooms have created an additional permanent corridor.
"They are all nice, regular student rooms ," Coveney said.
In case overflow housing becomes a necessity, three additional spacious rooms were improved in the basement of Havighurst as well. A maximum of four students will live in each room, Fink said.
The new housing in Havighurst will be used by women where there is complete privacy. However, since there is not currently a need for the rooms, these temporary living spaces are not being used, Fink said.
Coveney said some rooms that had been used as offices in Wilson Hall were also re-claimed and made into rooms this summer.
According to Fink, improvements to Hepburn reduced the capacity of the temporary space from 34 to 14 beds. Seven "semi-private" rooms in that space were also created through the placement of large pieces of furniture, he said.
According to Fink, each space includes a desk, locking storage cabinet, individual closet and dresser. Electrical upgrades enable the lighting in each space to be switched on and off individually.
"We've really created this very comfortable situation in there," Fink said.
Each living space includes a bunk bed, two desks, a locking file cabinet and individually controlled lighting, Fink said.
According to Fink, on-floor study lounges that were previously student rooms in several residence halls were converted back into student rooms this year.
The suite that formerly belonged to Pi Beta Phi in Minnich Hall has also been prepared as a living space. Since it was an open space for this year, the room was furnished in case it needs to be used as backup housing for women, Coveney said.
The space can also be used in unexpected situations that may occur or as university break housing for student teachers or international students.
In 2006, 200 single dormitory rooms opened up across campus. According to Coveney, the number of singles offered has not changed since then.
With first-year students, singles are not highly demanded, which leaves them empty in first-year halls, she said. Coveney said although those singles are offered to upperclassmen, they do not always want to live in a hall with first-year students.
According to Fink, the temporary housing at Hepburn can also be used for special circumstances, such as inclement weather for the staff members who are responsible for things like snow removal.
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