The University of Guelph is facing a housing shortage for first-year students, with over 1,350 students currently on a waiting list due to over-enrollment. Despite accommodating 85% of all students who applied for residence, the university is unable to guarantee housing for all new and returning students for the upcoming school year. This has led to frustration among some parents and students who were previously assured of residence spots during tours of the campus. The university has responded by adding housing inventory within campus residences and extending their lease on a former hotel to increase capacity. Additionally, a new student residence is being built across the street from the university, adding 500 units to the student housing supply, but there is no timeline for its completion.
Nate Broughton, a second-year computer science student and member of the Central Student Association board at U of G, has criticized the university for not being transparent about their housing capacity. He believes that the university should have been more upfront about the potential for a housing shortage given the higher-than-anticipated acceptances. Broughton hopes that the current housing situation will push university officials to address the issue by either constructing more residences or providing clearer information to students about the estimated wait-list. He is working on organizing an advocacy campaign with student leaders to draw attention to the severity of the housing shortage.
In response to the housing shortage, the University of Guelph is offering support to students who have not received a residence confirmation by providing information about off-campus housing options and other services to help with their transition to university. Melinda Scott, vice-provost of student affairs, emphasized that the university is committed to assisting students during this uncertain time. The university has taken steps to increase housing capacity by expanding current residences and leasing additional space, but these measures may not be sufficient to meet the demand for student housing. The construction of a new student residence near the university is also in progress, but the completion date is still unknown.
The city council approved the construction of a new 11-storey student residence building last October, which would add 500 units to the student housing supply. This development is expected to alleviate some of the housing shortages faced by first-year students at the University of Guelph. However, with no clear timeline for the completion of the new building, the university and students are left to grapple with the ongoing housing challenges. The hope is that increased advocacy and awareness of the housing shortage will prompt university officials to take further action in addressing the issue and ensuring that all students have access to adequate accommodation during their time at the University of Guelph.
