UofL Campus Housing Director Julie Weber recently told  that this type of “new apartment building environment” is no longer rare on college campuses.

“Housing has become quite a competitive advantage … Some surveys across the country will tell you that housing is in the top three or four criteria by which students make college decisions,” she told the publication.

The Nine and University Pointe living communities, for example, opened on campus this year. They feature Bluetooth speakers in bathroom shower heads, a yoga room, a self-serve Starbucks coffee bar, outdoor fire pits and more. They also include state-of-the-art study rooms with large computer monitors and whiteboards.

Weber said it’s important that housing is about more than the amenities.

“At the core, all the time, is to make sure that around the swimming pool and shiny objects, those things that we know will help students be successful in college are maintained,” she told Kentucky Monthly.

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Check out the video below about UofL’s new housing options.

Freshman McKena Alford sheltered from the drizzle outside University Tower, waiting for her parents to arrive and help her move a cart full of her belongings inside. Coming from a family of UofL fans, she had always expected to attend the university one day. That day had finally arrived, bringing with it a lot of emotions.

“I cried this morning because my bedroom was empty,” said Alford. “But I’m excited to start the whole UofL experience.”

Alford’s story is a familiar one, shared by her classmates and countless Cards before her. But this year, many students will be experiencing campus living as no Card has before, thanks to a slew of upgrades the university has made.

“We’re excited to have our residents back on campus and especially excited to add University Pointe and The Nine to the University Housing inventory. The addition of these two facilities, along with our existing buildings, allows us to offer housing to over 7,000 UofL students,” said Director of Campus Housing Julie Weber. “We are also pleased to offer a new home to the Honors Living-Learning Community, which is now housed in Kurz Hall, and to have added a new Living-Learning Community in Threlkeld: the Arts & Sciences Exploring Majors and Careers.”

At the revamped Kurz Hall, Resident Assistant Megan O’Brien was on hand last week during Move-In Day to help students get settled in their new dorms. Having served as an RA there last year as well, O’Brien looked forward to the changes the new arrangement will bring.

“In an LLC, students who live together likely take the same classes, fulfill the same requirements, and have the same scholarships,” explained O’Brien. “It really gives them the urge to form a community.” 

Sophomore Kate Jackimowicz stood in her University Pointe apartment surrounded by boxes of her belongings. Unlike most students, she couldn’t rely on the help of her parents to move in — they were 14 hours away at the family’s home in Boston. But luckily for her, University Pointe provided Student Living Assistants to move her things and help her feel at home, which she expects to be significantly easier this year.

“I lived in Unitas last year, so this is a major step up,” said Jackimowicz. “Living here will definitely help my grades because I do better when I can lock myself in my room and have my own area.”

As the rain cleared and rooms were put in order, students headed off to enjoy the activities that mark the beginning of yet another new school year.