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Res Life leasing apartments to house large number of freshman

Arizona Summer Wildcat

5,500 students will live in residence halls, up 10 percent

More freshman than ever are enrolling at the UA and Residence Life is developing creative ways to house them.

"We will be housing about 5,500 students this year, a 10 percent increase from last year," said James Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life and University Housing.

There are many reasons for an increase in the number of students who want to live on campus.

"Typically, students who live in residence halls do better academically than others do. Also, it gives the students the opportunity to get to know others," he said.

Residence Life has leased several surrounding apartment complexes to accommodate all the freshman that want to live on campus. The University of Arizona has already been leasing units in Corleone and Palm Shadows Apartments, but has recently started leasing almost all the units in Sky View Apartments as well.

However, placing students in leased apartments is only temporary.

"The university is in a long process of building new housing. Hopefully, we will complete an addition to Pima Hall over the summer, and we will be building two additional residence houses and two new apartment complexes," Van Arsdel said.

The two new residence houses will be located on the west side of North Highland Avenue, across from La Paz and Apache-Santa Cruz residence halls.

With leasing more apartments, Residence Life will be able to house 400 to 500 more students this year than last year.

"The apartments will be run as a residence hall with the same benefits as a residence hall, but each resident will have more independence, freedom and space," said John Bennett, a community assistant at Palm Shadows Apartments. "They have their own kitchen and living room and for every two residents there is one bathroom. The apartment is completely furnished with all the utilities paid."

Residence Life takes extra measures to ensure that students adjust to apartment life as easily as they would to life in a traditional residence hall.

"We focus more on community. Everyone is separated, and living off campus, building community is important so residents do not feel detached," Bennett said. "It doesn't really matter where you live, it depends on who is around you and your attitude and that determines your residence life experience."