“We got through it last year, and we’ve learned from that not to make assumptions.” – Scott Peak, director of Housing

This time last year, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee made headlines with overcrowding at Sandburg Hall. This time around, UWM is watching the housing application process in order to save the university from last year’s mistakes.

In 2005, UWM overbooked student housing by close to 300 people. This year the university is keeping closer watch over the application process. New housing facilities built this year are ready for incoming students. More housing is being built for the future.

“We’re right on track,” said Kelly Johnson, assistant director of University Housing.

Part of the problem last year was that the housing department did not anticipate the surge in enrollment that has been building in recent years. UWM generally sees a 32 percent return rate on Sandburg applications. Last year, that figure jumped to 42 percent.

The application process works as follows: Students send in applications. UWM sends out housing contracts to incoming students. Some students send contracts back. The school then tallies the students who want housing and then casts out more contracts to net more students. Last year UWM overbooked the dorms because they sent out too many contracts too soon.

Roughly 180 students gave up their spots in Sandburg Hall for a $350 incentive. That left 2,860 people jockeying for 2,700 beds.

“You never want to say no or turn away aspiring residents or a student that wants to come to UW-Milwaukee,” said Stephanie Warner, assistant director of Business and Contracts.

The remaining students on deck for housing were shuffled in the dorms. Single rooms were made into doubles, doubles into triples and triples into quadruples.

“We got through it last year, and we’ve learned from that not to make assumptions,” said Director of Housing Scott Peak.

New housing on Kenilworth Boulevard, between Farwell and Prospect avenues was completed on time and boosted UWM’s housing capacity to 3,100. The freshmen dorm on North Avenue is also moving along on track and is scheduled to open next year.

In response to the overflow of demand in recent years, UWM created the Neighborhood Housing Organization, which helps students find off-campus housing, roommates, parking spaces and links to investigate property owners. The NHO office is at Union, Room 302, and they can be seen on the Web at http://www.aux.uwm.edu/nho/index.html.

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