Soon, the building that now houses a laundromat and food mart will be torn down to make way for green space.

“We will work to determine the best permanent use of the space and given that it is within the residence hall district, that will be the priority consideration,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “This project will redefine Cardinal Center and benefit the entire neighborhood while completing an inviting student epicenter.”��

���Ǵڳ�’s housing demand was marked by a record-breaking 97% occupancy rate in fall 2024, with more than 3,900 housing assignments. Of these, nearly 1,900 first-year students unpacked their belongings in their new college homes, contributing to the unprecedented demand for on-campus housing.

The university has considered this property for 20 years, as the new use of the land aims to transform the Belknap Campus.

This purchase falls within ���Ǵڳ�’s overall which establishes a comprehensive vision that guides future development and transformation on the Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Center to support the university’s mission, vision and strategic plan. The Campus Plan serves as a 20-year framework, strategically strengthening ���Ǵڳ�’s distinct identity as both a top-tier research and community engaged university.

The Class of 2028 is particularly notable for its increased interest in STEM+H (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health) fields. Enrollment in these majors rose to 38.72% from 34.39% last year.

“Our dedication to student success and being a locally- and nationally-connected campus has positioned UofL as a leader in preparing our graduates for in-demand careers,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “The increased enrollment in STEM fields is a testament to our commitment to addressing critical societal challenges.”

UofL’s commitment to attracting a diverse student body is also evident in its record-breaking out-of-state enrollment. Nearly 30% of the Class of 2028 comes from outside of Kentucky, representing 39 states and U.S. territories.

Other highlights of the Class of 2028 include:

• 34.72% are��first-generation college students
• 63.6% live on-campus��
• Students represent 92 Kentucky counties
• 55.87% have some college credits
• 53.5% are pursing 15 credit hours or more
• 3.61 is the average high school grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale

Overall enrollment

UofL’s total enrollment came in at��24,073, for a record-setting year.

The university’s fall-to-fall retention rate has reached an all-time recorded high of 81.5%.

This notable achievement is accompanied by significant increases in retention among first-generation students.

UofL has also become a top destination for transfer students, with a 39.1% increase in transfer enrollment from fall 2021 to fall 2023 for all undergraduate students. This surge reflects the university’s appeal as a place where students can seamlessly continue their academic journeys and reach their full potential.

“We are thrilled to witness these positive outcomes, which reflect our commitment to redefining student success for all students,” said Schatzel.

The university’s student body represents a diverse range of backgrounds, with students hailing from 117 counties in Kentucky, 54 U.S. states and territories and 90 countries worldwide.

For more information, visit��.

Updated Oct. 18, 2024

Incoming students get their first taste of that as they push, pull, carry and drag their necessities to their new residence halls at the University of Louisville during the start of the fall semester. Family members beaming with pride and brimming with tears trail behind.

This year, University Housing and the Resident Experience is projecting almost 100% occupancy, with more than 3,900 University of Louisville students moving campus housing to begin their college years.

As has been the case in recent years due to COVID-19, move-in dates and times were staggered over a few days to alleviate crowding.��

UofL President Kim Schatzel and her husband, Trevor, were on hand Thursday to greet newly arriving students and families on Belknap Campus. They were stylishly attired in their bright red “Move-In 2023” t-shirts and posted a selfie on .

The Robinson family of Louisville were pleased with the ease of moving into Belknap Village South, saying the only holdup they experienced was as traditional as it gets — at the elevators.��

Tatyana Robinson, 17, who plans to major in criminal justice, said she chose UofL because of its diverse student population and it was close to home.

“I’m a big people person,” she said. “I’m just glad to see people from all different experiences.”

UofL has long been a part of dad Chris Robinson’s life, he said, and he was happy his daughter would be continuing that tradition.��

For Tatyana’s mother, Rana, UofL’s proximity to home made all the difference.��

“If we want to see her, if I need a hug, I can come see her real quick and I can go back home and she can go back to her college life,” she said.

Pre-business freshman Chris Mills said his move-in was “not as chaotic as I thought” and he liked the spacious residence hall rooms. He also said he likes UofL’s campus “and how you can walk from one end to the other in about 10 minutes.”

For more photos, visit UofL’s Flickr page and .��

In addition to some of the newest residence halls on Belknap Campus (the two halls of Belknap Village — primarily for first-year students — and Denny Crum Hall), other residence halls bustling with activity during Move-in Week are Unitas Tower, also primarily for first-years; the suites in Community Park, Kurz Hall, Louisville Hall and Billy Minardi Hall, and apartments in Cardinal Towne, Bettie Johnson, University Pointe and University Tower.

Dozens of have been planned for incoming first-years, commuting students and transfer students.

Just some of the activities (most involving snacking opportunities) include a Cardinal Kickoff Picnic with Schatzel and other administrators; yard games and Bingo Like Never B-4; UofL night at Kentucky Kingdom; sunrise yoga; nachos at Ekstrom Library; a Louisville bike tour; a Sustainability Free Sale; puppies (!);�� a “Taste of Louisville” lunch; a “Looking for Louie” scavenger hunt; an outdoor movie and a night pep rally at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.��

Classes begin Aug. 21.

Gabrielle Lawless and Tony Piedemonte contributed to this story.

Watch the video:

As you navigate the college experience, UofL has your back. You’re never alone in the Cardinal Community. Whether your needs are related to academic success, personal wellness, general well-being or recreational activities, there are resources available to enhance your overall student experience and to ensure a thriving future. Check out these 10 helpful campus websites:

1. ��–��UofL hosts over 400 student organizations that cover a wide variety of student interests. These groups provide a wonderful opportunity to become involved in campus life and to connect with other students on campus who enjoy some of the same things you do. Find the list of contacts on the��.��
2. –The Student Recreation Center (SRC) offers the latest fitness facilities and equipment, complete with basketball and racquetball courts. Campus Recreation also offers activities ranging from group fitness classes to competitive intramural sports to sport clubs.
3. ��–��The Cultural Center supports and offers programs that acknowledge and reflect the experiences of underrepresented populations. It also provides educational opportunities for all members of the campus community to examine their individual and group experiences within a culturally diverse society.
4. ��–��The counseling center offers services such as individual or group counseling, workshops, couples therapy, urgent consultations and psychiatric referrals. Some of the services are covered by student fees and do not require additional payment. The website also provides a list of��
5. ��–��The Cardinal Station and Health Sciences Center (HSC) Campus Health Services (CHS) offices provide basic primary care including physical exams, immunizations, allergy shots, travel medicine, flu and COVID-19 shots, sexual health and contraception and more. CHS has an insurance advocate who assists students enrolled in the UofL student health insurance program.
6. ��–�����Ǵڳ�’s����provides community-building socials with other first-gen students, workshops and individual coaching. Participants can earn completion grants toward their UofL bill.����matches first-generation, first-year students with faculty and staff for individual mentoring in the��.��
7. ��–��The University Writing Center offers one-on-one or group consultations to both undergraduate and graduate students with a trained writing consultant. The center also provides a range of online resources.
8. ��–��This is where many students can find out about outside-the-classroom learning opportunities, whether they are work-related (internships, co-ops) or research-focused. The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) is an on-campus resource for UofL, the community and industry partners that helps Cardinals better prepare for academic and success.
9. ��–��What’s going on today? You’ll find happenings from Belknap to HSC listed on the official UofL Event Calendar.
10. ��–��The ITS HelpDesk provides technology support to the Cardinal community. The ITS website features a Knowledge Base, Service Catalog and FAQ section with answers to questions like “What software is free for enrolled students?” and “What digital storage options are available?”

Several of these resources are sanctioned by ���Ǵڳ�’s or the . The Office of Student Involvement is a hub for cultural, social and recreational programs, while the Student Success Center provides resources related to advising, academics, financial well-being and belonging.

According to the UofL Student Success Center, whether a student is in need of a laptop, exploring a new major, facing a financial barrier or simply looking for a peer who’s been there before, the SSC is the place to turn.

We urge you to explore the wide array of programs and activities at UofL. We’ll be here every step of the way!

The residence hall opened for occupancy this semester and houses student-athletes from men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse, as well as other UofL students. Named for the Cardinals’ former Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach, the facility is located directly across Floyd Street from the Planet Fitness Kueber Center, the training home of the three sports housed in the new residence hall.
��
“Denny Crum Hall represents a first-in-class residence hall,” said UofL Director of Athletics Josh Heird.��“I would argue no other university has put as much energy and attention into an on-campus residence hall as the University of Louisville. … When you have something named in your honor, it tends to commemorate the years of service you’ve dedicated toward something bigger than yourself. And while I’m not sure we could have built a building big enough or nice enough to show our gratitude for all that Denny has given to the UofL community, we tried. Each day, Coach Crum had the opportunity and unique ability to impact lives, help families, serve as a compass to navigate difficult situations, and provide encouragement and advice for those seeking his counsel and expertise.”
��
The $23.5 million project is a partnership among UofL Athletics, UofL Campus Housing and a third-party developer consisting of Buffalo Construction Inc. and Investment Property Advisors, who also developed Cardinal Towne, another campus housing project. L&N Federal Credit Union has provided a $2.25 million gift to the Cardinal Athletic Fund to promote the legacy of UofL Athletics through naming the facility in Crum’s honor.
��
The five-story, 67-unit facility includes 128 beds, of which UofL Athletics will guarantee occupancy for 63 to remain within the NCAA requirement of no more than 50% of the beds being occupied by student-athletes. UofL Athletics will also guarantee an additional 10 beds to be used by team managers and graduate assistants.��
��
The residence hall will also serve as a Living Learning Community (LLC) to bolster its sports administration program and others that involve athletic excellence from a business and operations standpoint. With the LLC including many athletes in action, it offers unparalleled opportunities for athletes and students to work together to innovate in the field of sports.
��
“We know what Coach Crum means to the university athletics program and what he means to the university basketball, but he also means so much to us at UofL,” said Louisville Interim President Dr. Lori Gonzalez. “Every Cardinal fan is familiar with all of his accolades – national championships, Final Four appearances and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. But he’s much more than those awards and accomplishments that happened on the hardwood. He’s also a husband, a father, a mentor and a role model.
��
“… For many years and to many people, Denny Crum has been the face of the University of Louisville, and we couldn’t be more proud of that fact.”
��
Each apartment features a full kitchen with cabinets, island, solid surface counters, refrigerator, kitchen sink, cooking range, dishwasher, and microwave. Additional features include a single stack-style washer and dryer in each apartment, furnished common living space, and access to a private bedroom, restroom and closet for every occupant.
��
Shared amenities on the first floor include:
��
• A common kitchen and dining area adjacent to the lobby
• A common area in the lobby with a 164-inch video wall capable of showing up to four screens
• Another media lounge with a 198-inch video wall capable of showing two screens
• A study lounge with a private tutoring area
• A gaming wing with billiards, Pop-A-Shot, arcade games and other games
��
Each floor of the residence hall includes multi-purpose rooms, including a Muhammad Ali-themed space on the second floor, as well as an outdoor patio deck on the fifth level. There’s also an outdoor deck attached to the Ali room that wraps around with a great view of the Kueber Center and Cardinal Stadium.
��
Those on hand for Thursday’s dedication included the facility’s namesake Crum, who served as UofL’s men’s basketball coach for 30 years (1971-2001), retiring following the 2000-01 season.�� He directed Louisville to the 1980 and the 1986 NCAA Championships, ranking him as one of only 14 coaches in NCAA history to win two or more titles. Six times he guided the Cardinals into the NCAA Final Four, including four times in the decade of the ’80s. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 9, 1994.
��
After his retirement, Crum continued to work as a special assistant to the UofL president for several years. The KFC Yum! Center court has been named in his honor. Since 2001, The Denny Crum Scholarship Foundation and the Denny Crum Scholarship Fund at UofL have awarded over a million dollars benefiting over 425 students. The San Fernando, Calif., native made Louisville his home and has lent countless hours of his time for charitable causes throughout the community for the past 50 years.��
��
Two members of Crum’s first national championship team in 1980, Darrell Griffith and Roger Burkman, spoke Thursday to the wide-reaching impact of their former coach.
��
“The most important thing is what Coach has meant to his former players, and that’s evident with all of the former players that are here now,” Griffith said. “Coach is the University of Louisville. He’s the marquee trademark of our brand.”
��
“He’s been there for all of us, for this university and for this community,” Burkman said. “He’s that humble guy that you would never know is a legendary superstar of a college basketball coach. He’s always been, without a blemish, a great mentor and role model for all of us. He’s had such a positive impact on everybody’s life that he’s touched, especially mine.”

In preparation for this influx, the department that was once Housing and Residence Life changed its name to University Housing and the Resident Experience (UHRE) to better reflect its modern mission.����

Enter Tina Belcher, who on Aug. 1 started her job as ���Ǵڳ�’s first Director for the Resident Experience.����

The Irvine, Kentucky, native and Eastern Kentucky University double graduate is passionate about students and their well-being. She trained to be a nurse to care for patients but switched her focus to caring for students when she realized from personal experience how important it is for them to have on-campus support and guidance during their college years. She has two degrees from EKU: a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in student personnel services in higher education.����

Belcher started her own college career commuting to EKU from her parents’ farm. But when a friend was looking for a roommate on campus and invited Belcher to join her, she moved into her first EKU residence hall. Though Belcher didn’t know it would at the time, that move to campus housing changed her career trajectory.����

“I did start off as a nursing major and I was a resident assistant at the same time. I realized I loved doing this. I love being a role model for others. I’ve seen the impact that housing can have on someone’s experience,” she said.��

Belcher, who began her career in a similar role at Mississippi State, came to UofL as the transformation of Belknap Campus took final shape this fall when New Residence Hall�� officially opened. NRH and its neighboring twin that opened in 2021, Belknap Residence Hall, replaced two outdated halls in Miller and Threlkeld halls. Together, they accommodate about 900 students, mostly first-years, in modern, spacious settings meant to feel like home while contributing to their success.��

The new halls sit on either side of the Swain Student Activities Center. Their proximity to the Red Barn, Ekstrom Library, the Interfaith Center, classroom buildings and the tree-lined Quad mean residents are immersed daily in ���Ǵڳ�’s vibrant student life.

In addition, the new Denny Crum Hall on South Floyd Street, also opened this fall.����

Belcher said she understands the importance of her new role at UofL, “and I don’t take that lightly.”��

“To me, the role is the overall leadership of making sure the students have a good experience. I feel responsible for that,” she said.����

“This position was created to have someone devoted to the entire resident experience, that 70% outside the classroom, and mainly in the residence halls, the average student spends at UofL to ensure it is productive and worthwhile to their growth and learning,” said Thomas W. Hardy, executive director of UHRE. “Tina has immediately started making a positive impact on our campus and most important with our students who reside on campus in areas of connectedness, promoting resources at UofL that lead to retention, and serving on the student care team to ensure those in crisis get the assistance needed.”��

Belcher said she sees her role as dynamic: On any day, she could be providing customer service, helping with academics, or ensuring someone has extra emotional support.����

“It’s at a crucial time in their life … coming to college and living alone, away from their family and what they have known their whole life. I’m hoping at the end of the day, their experience in housing leads to their success in the classroom and overall leads to graduation after four years.”��

Belcher said that while common issues like roommate conflicts (“how to navigate someone new in your space”) have been around for decades, students today have an added wrinkle: social media.��

“Technology obviously is a great thing, but it definitely can bring some unique challenges as well that we have to navigate,” Belcher said. “But hopefully we’re learning to also meet students where they are with that technology. … We hear students just need to get off their phone … which is a little bit true. But I also think it’s a little bit of, ‘that might not happen so how can we incorporate that technology to meet them where they are?’ I think that’s something that is a unique challenge.”����

Belcher finds herself in at least one of ���Ǵڳ�’s 12 residence halls every day. She might meet with the staff that she supervises or just chat with students. Her favorite spots on campus so far are the Quad, which she called an “oasis,” and the Red Barn, which she said is “just a unique and iconic building.”��

She lives in St. Matthews with her two 7-year-old cats, Boo and Sullie.������

In November, voters in the city of Louisville will elect a new mayor and Metro Council. University of Louisville social scientist Lauren Heberle and the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, Louisville’s affordable housing advocacy group, are ready.��

MHC’s 2022 , titled “Toward a Just Future in Uncertain Times,” was released in June. It is the latest annual MHC report written by Heberle, director of the University of Louisville Center for Environmental Policy & Management in the College of Arts & Sciences, along with graduate student researchers.��

Heberle has contributed to the report since 2006 and written it for more than a decade. Kelly Kinahan, a former UofL assistant professor in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs, was co-author since 2017. (Kinahan has since left the university.)��

The report, at 90 pages, is the longest and most comprehensive ever, designed to be the go-to document for newly elected Louisville leaders who need current information on housing. ��

The MHC report is normally published in November, but its schedule was thrown off by the Covid-19 pandemic. That gave MHC and Heberle’s team the chance to “do a real deep dive” before the November election, she said.��

“If you don’t have it documented, it makes it harder to hold folks accountable or keep moving it forward, especially in something as complicated as housing,” Heberle said. ��

The current report will serve as a road map for the new administration. It is jam-packed with tables, charts, maps and graphics used to help MHC and others advocate for housing changes in Louisville. ��

UofL students also contribute mightily to the report, with several taking a lead on data analysis every year. Some are undergraduate students, some are graduate students. Some are sociology majors, while others are from urban and public affairs. ��

This applied research is a “way of teaching them how to make sense and talk about the importance of research for policy change, for social change, for social justice,” Heberle said.��

 “Figuring out how to understand this complicated structure of funding and policy that comes down from the federal government and shapes how Louisville is able to function is a really important learning opportunity for our students,” she added. Students have used their experience working on the report to help them apply for jobs, she said.��

Tony Curtis, executive director of MHC, noted the many years Heberle has worked on the report.��

“Producing this report is not only important to drive the fair, accessible and affordable housing conversation in Louisville and making the best housing data and analysis available for policymakers, advocates, and the community, it is a research and educational tool that Lauren uses to teach her UofL students and give those students the opportunity to engage in research that has real community impact,” Curtis said. “This is the beauty of the State of Metropolitan Housing Report collaboration between MHC, Lauren and her team.”��

There have been some years that the report focused on research topics suggested by Heberle or her students, while other years the report is in response to a specific need or request that MHC has, such as preparing for upcoming legislation.��

“They’ve understood the value of working with students and have seen that work to their benefit over the years,” Heberle said of MHC, “and have been really supportive of our students in that work.”��

As director of the in A&S, Heberle might have two or three graduate students working with her on the MHC report or another project each semester.����

Students bring different interests and talents to the project. “I’ve had folks come to the table saying, ‘I want to learn how to make better maps,’” she said, and they produced maps for the report. Additionally, she and her students often work closely with ���Ǵڳ�’s and the .��

Learning how to obtain and report federal census data is a big part of compiling the report. Students learn how to put the information that is available — which fluctuates — into a form that MHC can use for its needs — which also fluctuates. ��

“That’s a learning experience for students,” she said. ��

Heberle also leads community engagement for the created at UofL about five years ago to support research on the cardiometabolic effects of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). As a social scientist, her focus is community engagement, or working with the public affected by the sites. UofL is one of several universities that conduct research or outreach on the sites .��

The traditional-style hall is the second to open in two years on Belknap Campus, providing modern, affordable housing that goes to the heart of student success.

Called New Residence Hall (NRH), the building will accommodate 450 primarily first-year students in one- and two-bedroom units on five floors. It will also be home to ���Ǵڳ�’s new, where ��students can find hands-on job and research opportunities.

“We know students, especially in their first year, thrive when they are immersed in the college experience,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, interim president. “This new hall and its twin neighbor place 900 first-year students as close as they can be to the Swain Student Activities Center, the Interfaith Center, Ekstrom Library, numerous classroom buildings and our beautiful outdoor spaces.”

As part of its strategic plan, UofL has invested $87 million in these two Belknap Campus student housing projects over the past two years. Last year, UofL celebrated the opening of NRH’s neighbor and twin, currently named Belknap Residence Hall.

“The opening of this new residence hall is a culmination of over a decade of planning and implementing capital improvements to make the University of Louisville a vibrant learning and residential community for our students,” said Michael Mardis, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “We at the university are excited to see a large number of new freshmen and returning students choosing to live on campus this year. Students who live on campus both here at UofL and nationally are more likely to be successful students.”

To make room, UofL demolished Miller and Threlkeld halls, which had been home to first-year students for close to six decades.

“Our new residence halls have the amenities students are looking for in the 21st century and will contribute to their success,” said Tom Hardy, executive director of university housing and the resident experience.

NRH was designed with input from students and offers common areas with abundant natural light, classrooms, private study rooms, a game room, a kitchen and several laundry areas. It also features private bathrooms.

Messer Construction was tapped to complete the project. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Messer’s Jason Larkin said the company wanted to “meaningfully engage students” throughout the building process and created five co-ops for students to work on the project. Three of those students have since graduated and are now full-time employees at Messer.��

“I had the opportunity to tour the New Residence Hall shortly before construction was complete,” said Dorian Brown, 2022-2023 president of the UofL Student Government Association. “I thought it was pretty cool seeing a friend of mine who graduated from UofL after my freshman year, was on the construction team and was involved in bringing the New Residence Hall to life!”

A time capsule focused on the construction years of 2021 to 2022 was placed near the building’s dedication marker by the main door. It holds items such as the university’s strategic plan, a message from Gonzalez, Covid tests and masks, a newspaper marking the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine and sports updates.

In addition to these halls, UofL Athletics will soon celebrate the opening of the new 128-bed Denny Crum Residence Hall near the basketball practice facility.

While some early move-ins had already taken place, Wednesday’s official start saw a stream of anxious first-year students and their families hauling belongings and sharing laughs, hugs and tears under warm, sunny skies.

Three mini Cardinal Marching Bands provided that traditional college sound at different locations to add to the celebratory mood.

Approximately 3,500 students — 2,000 of them first-year students — will move into university housing before the start of classes Aug. 23.��

More than 450 will be the first residents of the just-opened Belknap Residence Hall, the university’s first new residence hall in 31 years. It joins two other traditional-style halls that are primarily for first-year students, Miller Hall and Unitas Tower.

“The whole experience has been so pleasant,” said incoming first-year student Mary Schook, who was moving into BRH. “The [Belknap Residence Hall] is super nice, my room is much bigger than I thought it would be and everyone I’ve met along the way has been so friendly and so welcoming.”��

Mary’s mother, Nancy, said the pleasant move-in experience calmed some of her parental fears.

“It’s been very easy to move in and everyone is very helpful and I feel comfortable leaving her here,” she said.��

Over at Unitas Tower, Katina Carroll said she broke down in tears a couple of times as she helped her son, Brayden Miller, move onto campus from their home in Corbin.

“It’s pretty emotional. I’m proud of who he is and where he’s going in life, but then again, he’s still my baby,” Carroll said, adding she thinks she’ll probably cry all the way home. “That’s why I brought somebody with me to be able to drive me home, because I don’t know that I can even handle that.”

Other residence halls on Belknap Campus are the suites in Community Park, Kurz Hall, Louisville Hall and Billy Minardi Hall, and apartments in Cardinal Towne, Bettie Johnson, University Pointe and University Tower.

Dozens of Welcome Week activities were planned for incoming first-years and second-years who didn’t get a chance to experience Welcome Week in 2020 due to COVID-19 cancellations. Commuting students and transfer students also have specific activities aimed at getting them settled at UofL.

Just some of the activities include a free welcome-back concert at Cardinal Stadium, the traditional SOUL community service day, a scavenger hunt, yoga and other exercise classes, playtime with puppies, lawn games and late-night ice cream floats.

Natalie Uhl, digital content coordinator in the Office of Communications and Marketing, contributed to this story.

The five-story, 452-bed�� is the first of two new halls for first-year students that are part of an $87 million project replacing outdated buildings used for three decades for housing and university offices. The second hall will open in Fall 2022.

“By cutting this ribbon today, we are beginning an exciting new era for UofL students on Belknap Campus,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “Not only are we welcoming back students, many of whom have been learning virtually due to COVID-19, we are presenting our first-year students with a thoroughly modern residence hall designed to help them achieve success.”

Designed with input from student advisors, the hall is located in the heart of Belknap Campus near classrooms, libraries, dining areas and restaurants, a campus movie theater and other activity spaces in the Student Activities Center and an abundance of tree- and garden-lined grounds.��

In addition to its single- and double-occupancy rooms, the hall includes:

• Classroom space
• Study areas filled with natural light��
• Private study rooms equipped with desks, chairs and whiteboards
• A game room, kitchen and multiple laundry facilities, and
• Proximity to ���Ǵڳ�’s new , set to open in October.

“I have to be honest; this project was a big risk, as the debt load will be carried way past my tenure and with the exception of maybe our student leaders, none of us currently working at UofL will likely be here when it is paid in full,” said Director of Housing Tom Hardy. “However, the entire team at UofL knew this was an investment we needed to make to be competitive, but most important to better meet the needs of today’s students.”

Belknap Residence Hall is at full capacity for the Fall 2021 semester. Students will begin to move in this week and a welcoming students back to campus begins Aug. 18; classes begin Aug. 23.

A third new residence hall, the 128-bed Denny Crum Hall, is also being constructed on Belknap Campus and scheduled to open in 2022. It will house a mixture of student-athletes and non-student-athletes.

More details are .