Michigan State University requires freshmen to live on campus. Starting next fall, MSU will require new arrivals to live in campus housing for a second year.
MSU hopes the second year on campus will help students succeed. More sophomores in dorms and university apartments will mean less availability for juniors and seniors.
Kat Cooper of MSU Residential and Hospitality Services says "while it will have a net positive influence on how many people are living in the residence halls, it’s not as big of a change as I believe people think it to be.”
About half of MSU’s sophomores usually live on campus. Cooper expects some juniors and seniors who might normally live in MSU housing will be displaced. “There won’t be space for them any more in the on-campus residential halls," she explains. "There still will be some available in the on-campus apartments, but they may or may not choose that space.”
Cooper says additional revenues will be reinvested in the housing and food service system.
About 14,500 students live on campus in a typical year. If every dorm room and apartment was filled to capacity, MSU could house almost 4,000 more.
Fraternities, sororities and co-ops may be included as meeting the on-campus requirement.
