Hundreds of incoming Indiana University freshmen aren't sure where they'll be living when classes start in a little more than three weeks.
Some 225 enrollees' housing assignments are still "pending" — meaning the university hasn't yet determined where they'll be housed. Those "pending" assignments are, in part, because of a "slightly larger-than-normal" freshman class, says university spokesperson Mark Land.
"It doesn't mean they won't have housing when they get here," he says.
On top of an expected incoming class of more than 7,800 freshmen, one of the university's residence halls is closed while it undergoes renovations, lessening the number of available beds by about 680.
"We're working on freeing up space in part of Wilkie [Residence Hall] that's traditionally been used for upperclassmen and making that space available for freshman," Land says.
Some students could find themselves living in converted lounge areas in residence halls if the university can't muster up enough rooms — but Land says that would be a temporary solution.
A few different scenarios could free up beds for incoming students.
Land says the number of incoming freshmen expected to arrive usually changes, meaning some enrollees decide at the last minute not to come to IU.
The university is also refunding all housing deposits for upperclassmen who want to leave their on-campus housing assignments.
"We still have a little bit more than three weeks before classes start," Land says. "This is not the first time this has happened. Every few years, we have a little bit of an issue where it looks like we're going to be oversubscribed, but we've always found permanent places for everyone. We don't anticipate this semester being any different."