After a full two-year run on campus, The Courts residence hall is expected to officially close down at the end of next semester and will cease to exist by Fall 2019.

“The Courts houses 40 students,” says Courtney Stephens, assistant dean of students and director of housing and residential life. “The number of filled beds shifts throughout the year with room changes, students going and returning from abroad, etc.”

Mia Panzak ‘21 is one of the students who currently resides in The Courts in a single occupancy dorm room.

“When deciding where to live, Courts was my last choice,” explains Panzak. “Now that I’m living here, I actually really like it, and while it may not be the best dorm on campus, it’s in a convenient location and has everything I need. It was a good housing alternative and now that it’s being removed, I look forward to seeing what the space is going to be used for next!”  

Originally built as a short-term solution to a shortage in housing due to “a combination of a larger incoming freshman class, heightened retention rates and the closing of a fraternity house,” as indicated by an article in The Weekly from Sept. 2016, The Courts debuted on campus in Fall 2016, joining the roster of other on-campus upperclassmen residence halls at the time.

When The Courts was first introduced to campus, it was presumed to be a secondary option for students who had requested to live in Brown Hall; therefore, it was all-female at the time. That did change this year.

“We received requests from male students and were able to make it co-ed this current year,” says Stephens.

Deemed as temporary from the very beginning, The Courts was expected to last two years, three at most.

 “The Courts was originally installed due to a temporary influx of residential students,”

“The Courts was originally installed due to a temporary influx of residential students,” explains Stephens. “A slightly larger than expected incoming class, Muhlenberg’s high retention rate for returning students and an increase in the number of students transferring to the College acted as major contributing factors to the need for additional upper-class housing spaces. As this is no longer the case, we are able to make the change.”

The official announcement of The Courts’ departure was revealed in an email sent by Stephens on Nov. 2. According to the email, the temporary living facility will be physically removed from campus over the summer, so it will not be an option in the housing lottery next semester.

“We annually review the number of spaces available on campus,” says Stephens. “As we have enough beds to house the student population – both current and projected – the decision was made to proceed with the plan to only rent the Courts for two years as scheduled, with the possibility of a third.”

“As we have enough beds to house the student population – both current and projected – the decision was made to proceed with the plan to only rent the Courts for two years as scheduled, with the possibility of a third.”

The Courts’ absence is not expected to have any negative effects on students trying to figure out housing for next year, ensures Stephens.

Many college campuses across the United States, even right here in the Lehigh Valley, have been experiencing issues regarding housing shortages, forcing students to seek housing off-campus. Just last month, Lehigh University revealed that rising juniors and seniors would be forced to live off-campus next year due to the removal of an on-campus apartment complex, according to a report by WFMZ 69 News.

Despite the removal of The Courts, Muhlenberg is not expected to have any of these same issues occur.

“Housing on campus is impacted by the number of students who choose to study abroad, transfer, graduate early, commute, and/or are granted permission to move off-campus. These numbers fluctuate from year to year,” explains Stephens. “However, we work with the Enrollment Management Team to make informed decisions about residential projections.”

There are also plans in the works to build a brand new upperclassmen living facility, as indicated by the Campus Master Plan. Stephens notes that planning meetings regarding the new residence hall will begin this semester.

In addition, more updates regarding what will happen to the space where The Courts are currently located will be provided next semester.

Header Photo courtesy of Sydney Coplin / The Muhlenberg Weekly

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