More graduate students and upperclassmen could attend ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus in its first year than freshman and sophomores, University officials said.
Downtown campus provost Mernoy Harrison said this could decrease the urgency to construct residence halls.
He added that adequate student housing is more critical for freshmen and sophomores than for older students, who likely have prior living arrangements.
"We want to make sure that there's going to be enough housing for students to live on campus and get connected to the campus, especially in the first two years of college," Harrison said.
Harrison estimates 300 to 800 freshmen could take classes in downtown Phoenix next fall.
About 2,500 students total are expected to attend the Downtown campus in fall 2006.
Harrison hopes the campus could ultimately become a residential environment, bustling with students.
He expects about a third of the 15,000 students expected to be studying downtown by 2012 will live in University housing.
"There could be another significant percentage of students living in housing within walking distance of the campus," Harrison added.
ASU is currently assessing the number of available rental apartments and houses in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Harrison estimates a list of such options could be available by spring 2006.
Harrison said a university can retain the flavor of a residential campus even if most students don't live near campus by promoting non-academic activities, such as student clubs.
"A residential campus is one where you have students and student activities going on seven days a week," Harrison said.
A residential campus aids students, especially freshmen, because it provides easier access to study groups, tutoring, faculty, libraries, research laboratories and other campus resources, said Sally Ramage, vice president of student affairs at the Tempe campus.
Kevin Cook, vice provost and dean of student affairs for the Downtown campus, won't designate the campus as a residential or commuter environment because housing would be made available based on student demand, he said.
"Just because you have 7,000 students doesn't mean you have 7,000 beds," Cook added.
The waiting list for the downtown Phoenix Ramada Inn, which could house 300 students next fall, could provide an indication of how many students want to live on campus, he said.
Demand would also be determined through market studies conducted before any new residence halls are constructed.
Nursing junior Lacey Smekel said she won't live in University housing because her father is helping her get a house in Chandler.
Social work senior David Hill said he hopes to live reasonably close to the Downtown campus next fall because he hates commuting, but he won't reside in University housing, either.
"I already lived in the dorms once, and I don't want to do it again," Hill said.
Reach the reporter at grayson.steinberg@asu.edu.
