Tennessee Tech prepares housing plans for increased fall enrollment

COOKEVILLE – Some Tennessee Tech University students will begin fall semester with non-traditional housing options and perks because so many students chose to come to Tech this fall. 

An estimated 135 students received temporary housing assignments in local hotels with the university covering the costs. 

“We expect our freshman class to be at least 20 percent larger than last year, and the demand for on-campus housing skyrocketed,” said Karen Lykins, interim vice president for enrollment management and career placement and chief communication officer. “Because Tech puts students first, we decided every student affected, even for a few days or weeks, should receive multiple benefits.”

Those benefits for students in hotels include free breakfast, room cleaning, shuttle services to campus and free access to hotel facilities, which in most cases includes fitness centers and pools.  

For students, being back in Cookeville for the fall semester brings excitement and much to look forward to.

Sarah Pratt, a senior student from Manchester, Tennessee, said, “Being back on campus is so exciting, and I am so happy to enjoy the community here again. I enjoy time on campus and look forward to another great semester here. Tennessee Tech has become a second home to me.”

Many universities with enrollment growth use hotels as a temporary solution until rooms become available on campus. Tech previously used this same solution, the last time being in 2013. Typically, rooms in on-campus housing become available throughout the year, and students will return to campus as that happens. 

The university has made the most of existing on-campus housing opportunities, allowing all incoming freshmen to receive on-campus housing assignments. Crawford Hall on the historic quad will again house freshmen. Crawford reopened this summer to house the Office of Communications and Marketing on the first floor. Now adjustments and renovations to the upper floors of Crawford Hall are being made to allow the building to house students.

The design of the future J.J. Oakley Innovation Center and Residence Hall, to be located on University Drive, is almost complete. 

Tennessee Tech is ranked as the number one public university in the state, according to Money Magazine, as well as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report. The university offers more than 200-plus programs of study, and Tech grads leave with the least debt of all public universities in the state. In fact, based on total cost and alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale. 

Find out more at tntech.edu

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