University Housing hasn’t been financially affected yet by a decrease in enrollment, but it might have to cut its budget if the trend continues.

According to Chris Dobek, associate director of Housing Operations at N.C. State, the number of freshmen enrolling at N.C. State has been declining, and the department’s funding comes solely from how many students are living on campus.

“The University is admitting fewer freshman each year, however, we still consistently house approximately 78 percent of the freshman class each year,” Dobek said. “University Housing is a receipts based program meaning that we do not receive any state money. All of our funding is derived from room rent, [and] in order to provide the high level of service that our students expect, we do need to fill our beds.” 

According to Barry Olson, director of business administration for University Housing, N.C. State decided to admit fewer students in order to adequately accommodate all of them, and the number of admitted freshman will stabilize in the years to come.

“As a housing entity, we are excited to work from stabilization rather than numbers unknown.” Olson said. 

The University could be impacted financially if fewer students continue to enroll each year in the future, Olson said.

Olson said University Housing is fortunate for not having to deal with any budget cuts so far.

University Housing has maintained a 96 percent to 98 percent occupancy rate of it residence halls, and the budget is based on a 94 percent occupancy giving the possibility of a surplus, according to Olson.

To make sure University Housing maintains this occupancy rate, Olson said the department tries to retain students who have occupied residence halls the year before. Almost 70 percent of freshmen return to a residence hall, but the amount of students decrease during their junior year. 

Olson said living on campus helps students keep up to date with current events around campus, but many leave due to the amount of rules and regulations that come with living in a dorm.

Dobek said sometimes there’s a waitlist to live on campus, but this year University Housing was able to accommodate everyone.

Dobek also addressed a rumor that if someone’s roommate left in the middle of a semester, then they would be forced to pay for both sides of the room.

“That’s not true,” Dobek said. “If a student is in a double occupancy room without a roommate, the student has three choices: choose to consolidate into another room, purchase the room as a private room or remain in the room and accept a new roommate.”