Kendall Moffett | Staff Writer
Demolishing University Apartments and forcing upperclassmen to live off-campus reflects Florida International University’s neglect of student voices and reliance on institutional policies that are more harmful than helpful.
FIU’s plans to demolish University Apartments F, G, H, and J. This will displace about 269 students in order to build a new medical research facility.
On its own, this is upsetting. But to make matters worse, the university will bar upperclassmen from applying for on-campus housing, reserving it for incoming freshmen beginning in summer 2026. Upperclassmen will regain access to on-campus housing in fall 2028.
Until then, upperclassmen like myself are locked into off-campus options during a period of soaring rental costs and a difficult job market.
I’ve lived off campus for a year, and returning to the main campus feels impossible. I’m stuck with high rent, fewer amenities, and a disconnect between campuses that leaves me with major FOMO. Walking past the dorms at the main campus reminds me of the community I’m missing out on, even when I try to be on the main campus as much as possible.
I compared on-campus and off-campus options and found the benefits of living on campus far outweighed the drawbacks. Learning that I can’t apply for more affordable housing with stronger social and academic support left me feeling hopeless.
FIU has proposed solutions such as hiring an off-campus housing coordinator, covering rent differences when students are forced into pricer options, and announcing new housing plans. But these measures only mask the problem and ignore student voices about how these policies affect them.
This partial solution questions how long before the system is overwhelmed by displaced upperclassmen. According to UNIVSTATS, FIU’s total dorm capacity covers only 8% of the student body, highlighting the already limited availability of on-campus housing. There’s no guarantee one coordinator can help every student struggling with sudden housing insecurity, which will push the need to hire more coordinators than intended.
FIU is failing its on-campus students, making these promises feel like temporary band-aids rather than real solutions, and students deserve more than a “quick fix” to a major change.
FIU should listen to students instead of imposing policies that jeopardize their success, and provide affordable on-campus housing options for all students regardless of their year. We shouldn’t be limited to one housing option; accessibility and choice are essential.
When universities restrict housing, they undermine academic achievement, social connection, and financial stability for the very students they’re meant to support.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
About Post Author
