Enrollment tops need for housing

The University of South Dakota’s strategic plan publicly recognizes a goal to enroll 1,500 first-time, full-time students by 2017, yet housing plans to accommodate these future students have yet to be disclosed by USD officials.

With the largest first-year class to date moving onto campus Aug. 23, the university’s housing capacity crossed the 100 percent threshold for the second year in a row. But, this number is not viewed as worrisome, Vice President of Student Enrollment Jeff Baylor said.

By using lounge spaces and study rooms as makeshift dorms, Baylor said, the student capacity rate can accommodate between 104 and 106 percent.

Although Baylor added that plans are in place to expand USD’s housing options, Monte Kramer, system vice president of finance and administration for the South Dakota Board of Regents confirmed USD has not submitted any formal housing presentations.

In order to acquire a new housing facility, the university would need to present a proposal to the S.D. BOR, and the request would then be reviewed soon there after, according to director of communications Janelle Tollman of the S.D. BOR. There is also no specific criteria needed to add a new facility, she added.

University administration has a 10-year housing master plan in line with its five-year strategic plan, Baylor said, which is reviewed every year, and that USD is considering possible housing options. Some of these “options” include utilizing current spaces, exploring local opportunities, and designing new residence halls.

While first-year Mathew Rico was not told that he would be living in overflow housing until weeks before he moved in, he is content with his living arrangements.

“It’s kind of fun. It’s a bigger space, they’re bigger rooms,“ he said. “They come with a couch and a big screen TV. If I had the option, I’d stay.”

Baylor said USD is also analyzing current housing facilities and student-interest options on campus in relation to their functionality.

“This is a destination college right now in South Dakota and in order to continue to provide a high level of services and the student experience that students expect today we need to be considering all possible options, and we are,” he said.