Freshman housing
Largest entering class means tripling of some residence hall rooms
4:21 p.m., July 21, 2014--With more freshmen than ever before coming to the University of Delaware this fall, the Office of Residence Life and Housing will be tripling some residence hall rooms and has initiated a special program -- 3@UD -- to assist affected students and their parents.
UD is in high demand, with the second-largest applicant pool in its history this spring. The high percentage of students accepting the University's offer of admission has resulted in the largest incoming class ever -- approximately 4,200 students.
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All incoming freshmen who apply to live on campus are guaranteed housing, and, with the size of this year's class, approximately 30 percent of first-year students are being initially assigned to rooms that will house three students instead of two.
Students in tripled rooms -- which include an extra bed, desk and chair -- may be able to move to double rooms as early the middle of September, depending on availability.
Assignment to tripled rooms was done by lottery, and information about the possibility of tripling was previously shared with all parents at New Student Orientation and with students via the housing application and on the Residence Life and Housing website.
Students who are assigned to triples will receive a financial rebate at 15 percent of the weekly room rate, for each week they remain in extended housing after Oct. 1. The rebate will be credited at the end of each month. This rebate is discontinued when a student is offered a permanent space, whether or not the offer is accepted or declined.
"We are dedicated to providing the best residential experience to all our students, whether they are in triples, doubles or singles," said Kathleen Kerr, executive director of UD Residence Life and Housing. "Our staff members will be working closely with students who are in triples to offer them programming specifically tailored to their needs and to help them with the process of 'de-tripling.'
"In the past, we have found many students in extended housing like the experience so much that they have opted to stay in the room all year because they enjoy the sense of community and relationships they have built," she said.
To assist students and their parents with the extended housing process, Residence Life and Housing has established 3@UD, which includes special programming within the residence halls on such topics as roommate negotiation techniques; social programming designed to promote interaction among all students in extended housing within the complex; subscription to informative 3@UD email updates; and support by Residence Life and Housing staff in the de-tripling process.
Additional information is available on the 3@UD webpage.