On-campus housing is about 94 percent full this semester, up roughly 100 students from 2002. But housing officials say they were expecting the dorms to be closer to capacity.
"I would have thought we'd have been fuller," said Randy Boeglin, dean of students and director of residence life. "We will do some follow-ups with students who didn't renew to find out why."
Securing a spot in on-campus housing is a different process from admissions, he said, though many students don't know that. Chances become better for nailing down a place in the dorm of choice the earlier someone applies.
"Most are on top of it," Boeglin said. "Most of the stragglers are late deciders when it comes to attending UNM or even going to college period."
Typically about 25 students will no-show, and housing will reclaim their apartments during the first week of school, he said.
Students pay $100 for deposit, a $200 pre-payment fee, and rents range from $1,705 a semester for a double-occupancy room to $2,335 for the Redondo Village Apartments.
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Along with the Student Residence Center, the Redondo apartments are the most popular among students, Boeglin said.
The two dorms' proximity to centralized campus services such as mail, and their apartment-style feel make them the most coveted residences at UNM, he added.
Surprisingly, Boeglin said, the SRC, which features six apartments around a common kitchen and two bathrooms, is preferred by renewing residents to Redondo, which offers four apartments per kitchen with one bathroom.
Aaron Ruffatto, a freshman majoring in media arts, is living in Santa Clara Hall this semester, but Redondo was his first choice.
"I was on the waiting list," he said. "I wanted the apartment style."
Patrick Duff, a freshman who has yet to declare a major, agreed, saying he would have preferred Redondo to where he ended up - Laguna Hall.
"But I like it," he said. "It's pretty cool. I can just hop on my bike and get anywhere I need to go. Plus it's near La Posada (Dining Hall) which is where I eat."
La Posada is part of a major effort that Housing and Dining Services has undertaken to be more accommodating to students, said Bob Schulte, the services' business director.
Schulte said Aramark Food Services spent about $500,000 on construction and new equipment for the dining hall.
Boeglin said housing and dining was trying to "give the place more of a restaurant feel" by including more made-to-order food options.
Another new attraction in the dorms is a service called Laundrimate, which allows students to call a number to find out if a washing machine is open. The service also will call someone's telephone back when their clothes are clean.
A new cable television and Internet package is another feature, though Boeglin says it presents a dilemma.
"The danger is, are we creating high-tech caves?" he said. "It's kind of a paradox. We're saying 'We want you to be social,' but then we give them computers and cable."
With all of the new amenities and proximity to campus life, on-campus housing remains attractive to some.
"I might come back next year," Ruffatto said. "Financial aid pays for living in the dorms. I may stay here the rest of the time I'm at UNM."
