University of Saskatchewan students will be moving into residence in record numbers this fall thanks to the opening of two more buildings in the university's College Quarter development, but space is still available for students who are still considering their housing options in Saskatoon.
"We've had a tremendous response from students not only to our new residence buildings in College Quarter but also to Seager Wheeler residence in McEown Park and Voyageur Place right here on the main campus," said Martin Gonzalez De Souza, acting director of Consumer Services. "The University of Saskatchewan has made it a priority to accommodate a larger percentage of its student body right here on campus, close to their studies and all of our amenities, and the investment in residence space has proven to be the right one."
As of Aug. 1, almost 700 of the 800 beds available in four College Quarter residence buildings were spoken for. There were 11 beds still available in Seager Wheeler and 75 in Voyageur Place, said Gonzalez De Souza.
"We understand that making decisions around university accommodation can take time," he added. "But we want to assure students that there are still options for them right here on campus."
As part of its effort to enrich the experience of its students, the U of S constructed the four residence buildings in College Quarter to anchor what will eventually be a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly community on 145 acres just south of the main campus. The plans for the multi-year College Quarter development call for up to 3,000 undergraduate and graduate student residence spaces along with a mix of retail, academic and recreational facilities
Gonzalez De Souza said that the new residences combined with existing facilities mean the U of S will be able to house about 12 per cent of its student population in residence, almost double the percentage of just three years ago.
Information about available residence space at the University of Saskatchewan, including rooms for students with disabilities, can be found online at www.usask.ca/residence/ or call (306) 966-6775.
