Officials plan for housing to match population growth

UTC housing officials have taken an approach to solving current shortage problems and developing future living plans.

 A memorandum released in February 2011 by Richard Brown, vice chancellor for finance and operations, cited a study conducted by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, which found UTC is a leading campus in Tennessee for freshmen enrollment growth. 

The trend continued this year as overall enrollment increased six percent and the number of first-year freshmen grew 11.7 percent, according to an article published in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press.

Val Sample, director of housing and residential life, said the University is able to currently house around 3,000 students, and officials are doing everything they can to prepare for future enrollment increases. 

"There are a lot of different options," Sample said, "Some are very feasible and others are more of a wish than an actuality." 

Overflow housing students have had to stay in downtown hotels in the past. 

At the beginning of the fall semester, approximately 125 students, mostly incoming freshman, stayed at The Chattanoogan, and 40 students lived there the entire semester, she said. 

Although the experience may be out of the ordinary, Sample said some students enjoyed staying at the hotel due to such amenities as room service and cleanings. 

The University also provides R.A.'s and other administrative services on site to help students with any issue they may have, she said.

Former student Kalin Hollingshead, currently a sophomore at Volunteer State in Gallatin, TN, said staying at the hotel hindered her freshman experience. 

"I was actually really upset," she said.  "I didn't really know anybody at UTC, and I didn't really have a reason to meet new people because all I could really do was get on the shuttle and go back to the hotel."

Hollingshead spent three weeks living in the hotel in Fall 2010 and said it affected her future at the school. 

"Staying away from campus, you don't get that instant connection with other students." Hollingshead said. "I liked UTC, but it did play a role in me transferring to another school." 

Sample understands the frustrations these students may have.

"Going to a hotel is not the norm on most college campuses, and it is certainly not an ideal place for college students to be," she said.

While adding more housing may seem like the easy fix, the issue presents a unique set of problems, Sample said

"Occupancy is higher in the fall than it is in the spring," she said. "If we build a 200-300 or 500 occupancy space, We have to make sure we are able to have residency for that in the spring."

Currently there are no students living at The Chattanoogan, Sample said. The addition of 140 beds in the Stagmaier Buidling beginning fall 2012 will have more students with on campus housing. 

Solutions will be actualized in the campus master plan in fall 2012.