State of campus housing amongst growing student population

Lipscomb’s enrollment of new students is at an all-time high. Questions are beginning to mount about where students will reside during the school year, especially for upperclassmen.

The Village is open to a majority of upperclassmen. It features apartment style living while being in the heart of campus. The process of obtaining the space is very competitive. Open rooms are made available through a lottery process. Current residents are given the option to squat the space. Essentially saving their spot for the next school year.

Senior exercise science major and village resident Cole Kimmel gave his thoughts on the current situation. “We’ve had this for like six years, so we’re very like blessed in that sense, but I think maybe they need to make it a little harder to keep the village, like maybe make it like six people have to be returning.”

In August 2024, first day numbers indicated that Lipscomb brought in a record 730 first-time
freshmen, which created a total enrollment of 4,800 students. The record number may lead to
uncertainty about housing as units are becoming more and more scarce.

Kimmel believes the Village needs to be expanded.
“I think having a few more housing units would be really good for everyone. I think a lot of
people like after their freshman year here, they’re like, get me into the village. It
seems super cool.”

The four-bedroom, eight-person apartments with their own kitchen and common area are
highly coveted but increasingly difficult to secure. Senior village RA and nursing
major Regan Davey gives more insight into these systems.

“There’s not really a lot of space beyond Lipscomb’s campus in order to extend outward, so really in order to fix that issue, you would have to change the student population. I think getting into the village can be a little difficult. There’s just not a lot of open space for each year that goes by because a lot of people do squat, so very few people get into the village
without already knowing someone there. But I think once you’re in the village, it’s kind of a
sweet spot because lots of times you can keep your place and as long as you have 50% of the
people in your apartment returning with you, then you’re all set.”

According to Davey, this year is just as exclusive.

“I know there is at least one village apartment available. Most of the residents are squatting.
This building in particular is mostly athletes, so lots of times the athlete apartments will just
keep handing off to other athletes that come in.”

As concerns continue to grow, students are patiently waiting to see what changes come to student housing and how the university will adjust to their growing population.