No room left in dormitories around Kent State’s campus. High enrollment sends students packing to off-campus apartments. TV2’s Aja Phillips reports…

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In April of 2014, many students received an email from the Associate Director of Residence Service, Dr. David Taylor. The email contained information prompting sophomores to move off campus for the incoming freshmen class. The question is where are these students living now?

Approximately 20 sophomores moved off-campus; of all the students asked to move, no one declined.

“For any students that we reached out to that were closed to junior status that weren’t junior status or were on their way to being. We didn’t ask where; so the way it was framed was if you have had a good experience so far and uh you wish at this point to move off campus if this serves you well feel free. And then we’ll allow you to do so. So I image some may have went home some grabbed an apartment,” said Taylor.

In the past years students weren’t allowed to move off campus until they were junior class standing (having 60 credits or more) or 21-years-old to be considered a commuter student.

That changed this year for sophomore, Julia Browning.

“I eager to move once I received the email. I was refunded my 200 dollar housing application fee and received a 155 dollar credit to my account to use for a commuter parking pass. Living at Campus Pointe feels like home,” said Browning.

The 2014-2015 school year is the first time ever they had to close the housing application due to a high number of incoming freshman.

“For any students that we reached out to that were closed to junior status that weren’t junior status or were on their way to being. We didn’t ask where; so the way it was framed was if you have had a good experience so far and uh you wish at this point to move off campus if this serves you well feel free. And then we’ll allow you to do so. SO I image some may have went home some grabbed an apartment,” said Taylor.

The admission rate increases higher and higher each year, which leaves students with limited to no housing. There is no perfect solution to eliminate high enrollment with incoming freshman at Kent State; the only thing residence services can do is to continue to manage it well. For TV2 KSU, Im Aja Phillips.