Purdue backpedals, offers $4K to students to move farther from campus

University Residences scrambling to handle 1,600 more students than expected on campus, offer $4,000 incentives for reassigned rooms. Students still trying to figure out what’s next

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PURDUE BACKPEDALS, OFFERS $4K TO STUDENTS TO MOVE FARTHER FROM CAMPUS

Here’s an update on a story that wound up moving fast on Purdue’s campus Thursday …

Purdue’s initial solution for students who were told Wednesday an unexpected spike in enrollment meant they would be reassigned to distant apartments or more crowded rooms came about 24 hours after initial notes left hundreds of upperclassmen in scramble mode.

The answer resembles what happens when an airline overbooks a flight, offering students returning to university-leased apartments $4,000 for the 2024-25 school year to accept a move from beds lined up months ago.

“I think it’s an encouraging message and is definitely a step in the right direction,” Ben Aulbach, a Purdue senior from Tipton, said. He was among the students and families trying to make heads or tails of the notices and a letter posted on LinkedIn by President Mung Chiang that went out Wednesday.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

“I’m baffled by how quickly University Residences changed their decision, however I’m definitely not complaining,” Aulbach said.

Here’s a look at how Purdue got to this situation, including why university enrollment will include 1,600 more freshmen than expected and why roughly 10% of upperclassmen living in university housing were targeted for reassignment to apartments that, at least in one case, were more than four miles from the West Lafayette campus: “Purdue enrollment spike leaves students scrambling, unsure about campus housing.”

Purdue said Thursday that “just over 700” of the 7,442 upper class students received room assignments that were different than the ones they expected when they left campus for summer break. Purdue guarantees housing to freshmen. And with a combo of a larger incoming class and students who want to stay in campus house, something was going to give.

On Thursday, the university sent a second letter to students, offering options: