UTSA Housing and Residence Life (HRL) has initiated a pilot double bedroom program this semester to determine if there is a demand for alternative living and price point.
According to Dan Gockley, executive director of UTSA HRL, on-campus housing could house 192 additional residents with this program.
“We have the ability to convert 192 spaces into doubles instead of singles,” Gockley said. “The doubles are offered at a substantially reduced rate.”
This program is part of a new student housing plan the university announced in the Fall 2018 semester. The plan includes two resident halls on the Main Campus: the Guadalupe Hall, which will be a freshman residence hall, and Residential Honors College; Roadrunner Village, which can house faculty, staff and upper-class students; and Cattleman’s Square Residential Tower, a new housing option on the Downtown Campus.
“This is an exciting time for UTSA with growth and expansion anticipated across many areas of the university. The housing initiatives are important aspects of that growth and are intended to enhance, activate and support the student experience at UTSA,” Gockley said. “Individually, each project will provide an excellent on-campus housing experience that will support student success.”
Students who live in on-campus housing have access to amenities such as pools, outdoor gaming areas and parking and transportation services. Amenities for each new housing project aims to support the university’s goal of improving student retention and success.
“Research indicates that students living on campus have higher retention and graduation rates than students living off campus,” Gockley said. “Expanding on-campus housing options will help improve student retention and success.”
According to Kevin Price, UTSA senior associate vice president for student affairs, the new freshman residence hall aims to help the university obtain its student retention and success goal.
“The new freshman residence hall will feature programming and initiatives focused on student success with a goal to foster retention,” Price said.
Sean Kelly, dean of the UTSA Honors College, is excited about the Residential Honors College, which is still in the early planning stages.
“We are currently in the programming phase and have been considering eateries, classrooms, rehearsal spaces, offices, counseling centers and entertainment venues,” Kelly said. “What we know, however, is that this will be an interactive, vibrant live-learn community that truly allows for the small-college experience within the UTSA Honors College.”
Housing contracts are currently available for the next academic year and the priority deadline for new applicants for double occupancy rooms is March 15. For more information on double occupancy rooms or on-campus housing, contact HRL at 210-458-6834 or through email at [email protected].