As many of its peers in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education face consolidation, West Chester University is considering adding more student housing to accommodate its fast-growing enrollment, writes Kennedy Rose for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Last fall, more than 14,000 undergraduates enrolled at WCU, which now has a resident waiting list. Hundreds of hopeful students vie for one of the school’s 5,100 available beds.

The pandemic has exacerbated the issue. School officials give fall housing preference not only to first-year students but also returning sophomores who missed their chances last year.

“Anybody who is beyond the first or second year at this point, there’s very little chance that they’re going to get on-campus housing. And they already know it,” said WCU President Christopher Fiorentino.

An outside consultant determined that the university could add more housing and fill it without issue. The school has therefore started talking to the borough about the possibility of building another residence hall.

“You have to be careful about adding housing,” said Fiorentino. “You need to make sure you can fill it.”

Read more about West Chester University in the Philadelphia Business Journal.