Most upperclassmen expected to seek off-campus housing; parts of University Apartments scheduled for demolition
Shane Miller, Aniela Cabrera, and Jonathan Roman | Staff Writers
PantherNOW has learned that although FIU will continue accepting on-campus housing applications at MMC, most upperclassmen are unlikely to receive placements starting Fall 2026, according to SGA Senator and Student Life and Academic Concerns Committee Chair Trey Saunders.
FIU hopes to be able to house more students on campus by Fall 2028, with the completion of the Tamiami Hall 2 project.
Most members of the DRC and other disabled students would reportedly also no longer have housing access, with only a ‘select group’ of the disabled student population able to retain housing access.
However, Senior Housing Director Andrew Naylor claims that FIU is prioritizing specific members of the DRC over all members. For example, Naylor noted how students with emotional support animals could have their needs met both on and off campus. However, for students registered with the DRC “for whom living off campus would be detrimental”, Naylor said they would receive prioritized housing, and he directed PantherNOW to the DRC for further clarification on the disabled students who would receive priority.
Saunders gathered this information at an RHA meeting with Senior Housing Director Andrew Naylor and Hall Presidents. Corrections were gathered at a meeting with Naylor, the SGA, and PantherNOW on Friday.
Naylor noted how honors students would still receive most of their housing access due to the selectivity of the Honors College.
According to Saunders, FIU stated it views off-campus housing as a “pivotal life experience” which it wants to encourage its Upperclassmen to deal with. These experiences were noted as paying rent, mortgages, and living in their own apartments, and this was used to justify the removal of Juniors and Seniors from on-campus units.
FIU also reportedly has obtained an affiliation agreement with several nearby off-campus housing units. FIU said these agreements would let them “allow more competition in the housing market, which would help offset the loss of Upperclassmen on-campus housing access. These ‘affiliated beds’ would add an extra ~200 beds to the FIU housing stock, according to Naylor, bringing the total to roughly ~1,400 new beds by the completion of new on-campus housing stock.
FIU has reiterated its employment of an off-campus housing coordinator to assist affected students by the Fall 2026 term. Naylor and SGA President Francesca Casanova noted how there are also several available scholarship options for students seeking nearby off-campus housing units. However, when asked about these SGA-funded scholarships, Naylor did not know if this information was publicly available or known.
This comes after the announcement that some segments of University Apartments, the oldest housing area on campus, which is also almost exclusively reserved for Upperclassmen, will be demolished starting this winter break and replaced with a new medical research facility. Students currently living in most UA units have been instructed to remove their belongings before the start of winter break in mid-December, though students were informed via email in October, before it was recently announced to the public.
Additionally, affected UA students have already received spring housing assignments at the same rate as their current UA assignments.
The rest of the University Apartments are not currently planned to be demolished, according to Naylor. This is because FIU relies on the revenue generated by UA tenants to help offset the cost of the new medical facility.
Tamiami Hall 2 and other plans are set to offset the loss of roughly 200 UA beds. Tamiami 2 will reportedly hold approximately 1,174 beds. FIU currently only has roughly 5,000 on-campus beds.
When asked by Saunders if SGA could do something to prevent the demolition of UA and the removal of almost 200 beds for Upperclassmen, Naylor reportedly told SGA that the plan was already in motion, and demolition would begin on January 12th, regardless of SGA or public pressure.
FIU also reportedly chose to begin demolishing UA due to a federal funding agreement where, if FIU had waited for 2 and a half years before beginning demolition, FIU would have lost contractual funding to build the new medical facilities. However, Naylor disputes this claim, and he stated that it was an internal BOT decision to ‘accelerate’ the demolition.
FIU has been experiencing a years-long crisis with on-campus housing, forcing many students who would otherwise live on campus to seek off-campus housing at nearby partner buildings, such as The One and Terrazul. Miami itself is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country as of 2025.
The One has also dealt with numerous living situation issues in the past, according to student sources.
Saunders criticized the ‘strong-arming’ of SGA, and also criticized the fact that FIU did not inform the SGA until immediately before the planned announcement. He believes that there is a ‘knowledge gap’ between FIU and the student body, because the Student Government was only informed 1 day before the announcement was slated to be released. He agreed that this was a form of ‘damage control’.
Saunders provided a statement to PantherNOW, which is attached below.
“FIU should reconsider ending on-campus housing for upperclassmen and master’s students, because it disconnects them from the university and pushes them into an already scarce off-campus market where outside landlords, not students, benefit. Even with shifting housing priorities, removing access for years only harms students who want to live, study, and thrive on campus. As MMC’s housing senator, I believe every student deserves equal opportunity, and I will support all who speak up to keep FIU a true community.”
Naylor responded to multiple claims in a meeting with PantherNOW staff on Friday. He began by stating how he is committed to transparency with housing, and also noted that FIU has had limited housing supplies for Upperclassmen since the prior academic year.
Naylor first noted how housing decisions are made in collaboration with both his department and the Board of Trustees, but it is not solely made by him. The BOT has final say in most matters.
Naylor also used “adult development theory” to defend the choice to limit housing. According to Naylor, FIU has seen an increased demand for Freshmen to live in on-campus housing. The demand for housing at FIU far exceeds the supply that FIU has on hand.
Naylor also compared FIU’s situation to other universities, such as many campuses in the UC system. According to Naylor, FIU is attempting to ‘meet the expectation’ of first-year students and parents, with most now reportedly wanting to live on campus. FIU has seen an increased demand for first-year students wanting to live on campus, especially since FIU has begun admitting more Freshmen than there are available class rosters.
When asked about the process by which the BOT approved contracts to demolish the housing, Naylor noted that the contracts were quickly approved. However, he said he approached the demolition of UA with “care and compassion” for the students affected. SGA President Casanova also noted how the medical facility to replace UA was on a master planning sheet for several years, which is publicly available.
Director Naylor also provided a statement to PantherNOW after a meeting on November 21st, which is attached below.
“Housing and Residential Experience is here to support students whether they live in on-campus housing or off-campus housing. We understand how important having a safe, comfortable place to call home is for the success of all students attending FIU.”
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it is released.
Corrections issued Sunday, November 23rd, after meeting with Director Naylor and SGA.
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