Communication on Student Housing

Dear Morgan Family,

Please allow me this opportunity to offer an update on the status of our student housing for this fall semester. For many within our Morgan family, the transition onto our campus and move into our residential facilities has been a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, this has not been the experience for all—particularly for some of our first-year students and their families who have faced considerable challenges and inconveniences during the move-in process. This is not representative of what we planned for your arrival.

Record Enrollment, High Demand for Housing

We are facing a headwind of positive growth at Morgan and with that growth comes some growing pains. This year, Morgan accepted its highest number of students in decades which is likely to result in a record number of new students exceeding the historic number we experienced last year. Further, more than 55% of the members of our entering class are from out-of-state, which means a greater number of students now require housing.

In anticipation of this record incoming class and with the support of the University’s Board of Regents, we moved proactively to lease additional beds off-campus, increasing the University’s total housing inventory to 3,400 available beds for the fall semester. Nonetheless, despite our best efforts, these proactive measures neither created enough supply nor the additional spaces needed to meet the very high demand.

On the positive side, most of our students who applied for an assignment during the open application period will be able to take advantage of one of the available 3,400 beds. However, for the hundreds unable to secure University housing and left with the option of relying on the waitlist—these students will not be left to fend for themselves.

Addressing the Demand, Securing Off-Campus Accommodations

Rest assured; we are working tirelessly to address our immediate housing needs. Over the last several days, the University has been in active negotiation with a local hotel to acquire 500 more beds. I am pleased to announce that those negotiations have successfully concluded, and we are thankfully in the position to extend housing accommodations to nearly all our students on the waitlist.

As of this communication, University staff and staff from the hotel are readying the facilities for our students’ arrival, which we have slated for Tuesday, August 23. Direct communication from our Office of Residence Life & Housing is forthcoming and will further detail all move-in process logistics. We are aware that classes begin on August 22, so we are working with our Division of Academic Affairs to make arrangements for those students impacted by these developments.

What You Can Expect

While residing at the hotel, all Morgan students are expected to abide by the University Code of Student Conduct and comport themselves accordingly. University staff will be housed at the hotel, 24/7 security will be present, and ongoing shuttle service will be available for routine transit to and from campus. Additional programming, including access to a fitness facility and meal options for those who had opted for the meal plan, will be available to support your well-being and accommodation while residing at the hotel.

I want to acknowledge the frustration that I know many of our students and parents have experienced related to housing. Morgan prides itself on listening to the needs of our university community and acting promptly to meet their needs in a resolute fashion. In some instances, we have fallen short of your expectations and for that, I apologize. I do hope that our actions in response will be met with understanding and acceptance.

Like so many of you, we are looking excitedly forward to the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, and I personally am eager to welcome the nearly 9,000 projected students to our National Treasure next week—marking another consecutive year of record enrollment.

Yours in service,

President Wilson