Colorado Mesa University’s rapid expansion over the last four years has led to a shortage of housing for incoming freshmen and sophomores. More dorms and apartments are being built to accommodate them, but some students are currently living in a hotel. The Residence Inn on Horizon Drive provides dorm-style housing for students without a room on campus.

In the last five years, approximately 900 new beds have been made available. Bunting, the newest dorm, accommodates an extra 328 students. When the new apartments on Orchard and Twelfth are finished, 192 additional rooms will be made available.

According to Troy Seppelt, Director of Residence Life, nearly 90 students lived in the hotel at the beginning of the fall semester. Within the first week of school, on-campus housing was found for about 20 of these students. An estimated 10-12 students will be moving onto campus next week. There are currently 50-55 students left in the hotel, and many may remain there for the rest of the semester.

Nineteen-year-old freshman Johnny Graham is one of these students. He moved here from Aurora at the beginning of the semester to study Mass Communication at CMU and is required to live in the dorms. When he registered at the last minute, there were no dorm rooms available, so he was into the Residence Inn.

Instead of paying hotel room rates, students pay the school for dorm housing. Graham shares his hotel room with one other student and has a Resident Assistant. Johnny gets some perks of dorm life, but he also enjoys the luxury that the hotel provides. His room is cleaned regularly and he always has clean towels. Students in the hotel also get basic commodities including a shower, air conditioning, a mini kitchen with a dishwasher, and access to a washer and dryer. The school provides students living at the Residence Inn with a monthly laundry allowance. Graham also has access to free Wi-Fi so he can do homework online.

The only hassle for Graham is traveling to class. Students without a vehicle must commute to school by bike or bus.

“This may not be the ideal housing set up for many students, but most students are very understanding about the housing shortage issue,” Seppelt said

Students who are more eager to live on campus are prioritized first for dorms. Others who are comfortable living in the Residence Inn are willing to remain there.

lpratt@mavs.coloradomesa.edu