ETSU adds more beds to accommodate increase in enrollment

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is making changes to accommodate its increase in student housing needs.

In recent years, enrollment has grown significantly at the university. ETSU projects that more than 14,000 students will be enrolled this fall, which is an increase of about 150 students compared to last fall.

In 2023, just under 3,000 students were assigned to on-campus housing. About 100 students had to stay in hotels at the start of last school year due to on-campus housing being full.

This year, the projected number of students living on campus is expected to be 3,400.

Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment Joe Sherline says the university is making changes right now that will make room for everyone who wants to live on campus.

“So we wanted to increase our housing capacity in an expedited fashion to address the demand that we knew current residents would have for on campus housing or what we projected, as well as to address a growing freshman class,” Sherline explained.

“So the best way to do it, in terms of being able to do it in a year, is to review your current housing facilities and say, ‘where can we add beds?’ That will provide a good student experience but will allow us to add capacity.”

One of the biggest changes will be at BucRidge, where the current two-person apartments will be converted to house four people.

One student told News Channel 11 that solution isn’t ideal.

“I have a lot of friends that were originally assigned for BucRidge, for example, but they’re living off campus now because they don’t think the rooms are big enough for two people,” Student Franklin Acosta said.

Other changes to increase capacity include the renovations at Powell Hall and Stone Hall and changing West Hall back to three students in a room instead of two.

But, with the goal of increasing enrollment to upwards of 15,000 in the next five years, Acosta says there’s only one real solution.

“I’m hoping they build more dorms and help with the housing crises,” Acosta said.

Sherlin says that’s the plan. In the next two years Yokley Hall will be converted back to a residence hall and the university has state approval to build a new dorm that should be completed in the next three to four years.

Sherlin says this is all a testament to ETSU’s effort to accommodate everyone enrolled.

“I think we’re doing a much better job of telling our story and talking about what the experience is like here, ” Sherlin explained. “You can come and get an outstanding education in nationally-ranked and recognized programs for low to no debt. You can do that on a campus where you can connect in a personally supportive atmosphere in one of the most beautiful regions in the country.”

Sherlin adds that because many of those BucRidge residents will now be sharing a room, the cost of housing for those students has been reduced to reflect the changes. For students who are in a quad, they’ll pay about $1,150 less over the course of the year than they would have if there were two people in that same apartment.

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