BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Some Florida Atlantic University students will be living off-campus in hotels again this year.
Due to overcrowded dorms, over 100 students at FAU will live in hotels for the fall semester. FAU says 93 students at the Boca Raton campus will stay at the Fairfield Inn and Suites and 30 students at the Jupiter Campus will at the Courtyard Marriott.
WPTV reported last year students had to stay off-campus in Boca Raton for the fall semester.
FAU said it is currently tearing down the Algonquin Hall at the Boca campus to make room for 616 new beds. The new hall will open in 2021.
The campus in Jupiter will also see a new residence hall in 2021; that will add 165 new beds.
Returning to campus housing for a second year, FAU junior Kallie Myers could not wait another day to move in so she paid a fee to move in early.
"It was nice being home and eating real food for a couple of months, but I'm happy to be back down here," said Myers.
She's fresh out of cheer camp and itching to start classes next week. And because Kallie applied for housing early, she's one of the upperclassmen who will be living on campus.
"We applied last year in November, anyone who applied in December or January ended up in hotels," said Myers.
But to incoming freshmen like Quiara Green, the college experience isn't complete without on-campus housing.
"I'm glad that my dorm is in the center of everything so I don't have to worry about traveling to class," she said.
Green's mom is also happy that there is campus security, making her daughter's move from Tallahassee a little less nerve-racking.
"Hopefully we have poured enough seeds into her that she can grow her wings and be fine," said Marquita Green.
And then comes the hard part, the goodbyes for now.
"My plan for today was no tears," said Quiara. "That's my plan too!," added her mother.
The university said the students who will be living at hotels were selected based on when they applied for housing and their housing preferences. The cost difference for those students will vary depending on the room they selected. They will have shuttle service to and from the campus, free daily breakfast, and housekeeping twice a week.
