Because of the increasing numbers of students wanting to live in the residence halls, more than 200 students were placed in overflow space at the beginning of the semester at K-State. Other universities around the country have been forced to make similar accommodations because of increasing enrollment numbers.
   
While there are many students living in those make-shift rooms at Jardine Apartment Complex, about 80 students have been moved into permanent spaces, said Nick Lander, assistant director of resident life.
   
Students are moved as space becomes available in the residence halls, and therefore it is a day-to-day process, said Derek Jackson, associate director of administrative services and residence life.
   
"We first moved people out of study rooms in West, then Boyd and Putnam as well as a few in Haymaker," Landers said. "Then we moved on to Jardine and RA space."
   
Annika French, freshman in civil engineering, was one of the students placed in Jardine because of overflow. When she called Housing and Dining Services to find out her residence hall assignment, she was told she would be living in Jardine instead.
   
"I like it a lot, actually," French said. "I have my own washer and dryer and my own kitchen and only share my bathroom with one other person and don't share a room."
   
However, because there are fewer people in the apartment she lives in than other overflow areas, she will probably move to the dorms soon, she said.
   
"It's kind of a pain, but I don't have a choice," French said. "I would rather stay here — it's more quiet. But it's not up to me."
   
K-State isn't the only university facing this problem. According to Wartburg College's "The Circuit," double rooms are being used as triple rooms, and lounges are being converted to temporary rooms as well.
   
According to Sidelines, the newspaper at Middle Tennessee State University, overflow students have been placed in hotels in the past. 
   
West Virginia University students were placed in lounges with cots for beds and tables to use as desks, according to the Daily Athenaeum. Universities all over the country are facing overflow situations and only providing temporary solutions.
   
The university has been in overflow for several years now, Jackson said. A more permanent solution has yet to be planned.
   
However, there were many factors that caused a much larger increase than was expected this year, Jackson said. 
   
He cited increased enrollment, increased desire for on-campus housing, higher retention rate and higher incoming rate as factors contributing to the overflow. 
   
"We know the graduating classes in Kansas are anticipated to decline, so this is not what we expected," Landers said. "But out of state and international students are continuing to increase, so I'd say we'll be full again next year, but we'll be able to accommodate then."
   
There is a plan to turn study rooms in Haymaker and Ford into permanent rooms, which will add about 80 bed spaces and assist in accommodations for next year, Landers said.
   
"We do have space that's flexible, overflow space," Jackson said. "Upon knowing the numbers of students that request to live with us, we'll continue to manage the way we have."
   
Though there are no plans to build a new residence hall, Jackson said they will continue to look at the numbers to determine how to best accommodate students. 
   
Thus far, this has been done in phases, and phase one was the expansion of Jardine apartments. 
   
"Phase two would increase on-campus occupancy over a period of time," Jackson said. "It's still to be determined whether that will be apartments or residence halls, but students have indicated that they would prefer apartments."