University of Rhode Island Housing and Residential Life emailed commuting students, inviting them to apply for on-campus housing this semester after determining there were roughly an additional 200 open beds.
Housing was influenced by several factors last year, including enrollment, student housing preferences and changing plans, according to Thomas Cooley, assistant vice president of student affairs and campus living.
“First-year enrollment was lower than anticipated, and some returning students chose alternative housing options including Greek housing or off-campus residence,” Cooley said.
After a stressful housing season where many students applied for on-campus housing, students were surprised to find rooms available.
“I think it’s very unfair,” second-year student Mary Ference said. “I have to now live off campus, and the housing is so stressful. Having on-campus housing would have definitely minimized my stress. I’m already out of state, having to pay Rhode Island loans, buy leases and real estate.”
The number of available dorms on campus changes throughout the semester, according to HRL. Students change housing plans, decide to commute to campus or go back home. They look at how many units are occupied.
“Housing regularly evaluates the occupancy and manages assignments throughout the academic year in response to student needs,” Cooley said. “Students have choices and occupancy fluctuates.”
Housing is not managed by the number of units, it is coordinated by the number of available beds determining the number of spaces available for students.
“We manage by bed,” Cooley said. “Which then associates to rooms; rooms then associate to units, and units sometimes are apartments. We have bed vacancies, roughly 200 or so on campus.”
Though it is only one month into the fall semester, student housing selection planning for the 2027-2028 academic year is already underway.
“It’s been going well,” Cooley said. “We are looking at reducing triple capacity for occupancy for our first-years in some of our existing residence halls.”
Although it is October, applications for on-campus housing remain open to any student who wants to live on campus.
“We encourage students, and that’s why we sent the email out,” Cooley said. “If someone is looking for housing, not liking their commute or having issues with their off-campus location, we’d welcome them to come live with us.”
Information regarding the upcoming spring housing room selection process will be distributed later this semester, according to Cooley.
“We have not finalized any details at this time,” Cooley said. ” We’re continuing to work on those.”
Students have choices about their residence next year, and more spaces will be open. New university housing is on schedule, on time and on budget, according to Cooley.
“It’s moving well,” Cooley said. “We’re excited to have more housing for next year. The north building of Flagg Road will be available during room selection come the fall.”
The new 514-bed upperclassmen building includes study areas, lounges and a new community market, according to Cooley.
Beginning in Fall 2028, the new building south of Flagg Road will also be available for student housing.
“That’ll be a 400-bed facility with similar amenities without the market,” Cooley said. “But also more common space. Then at the same time, Graduate Village will be brought back up.”
Even though new housing facilities are being developed, Ference believes next year’s housing search will still add unnecessary stress to the fall semester.
“It’s so frustrating and definitely very stressful on top of all my schoolwork and other activities,” Ference said.
The URI spring housing application will be open during the spring semester, according to the URI Housing and Residential Life website.
