Solutions to Dorm Crowding

The New York Times

At Mercy’s Dobbs Ferry campus, where 2,435 undergraduates are enrolled, applications have doubled in the past two years, reflecting both the demographic changes and the relatively low cost of tuition there, said Joseph L. Schaefer, the private college’s chief operating officer. At $16,000 for two semesters, Mercy’s full-time tuition is lower by $10,000 or more than that of other private colleges in the area.

About 800 students applied for on-campus housing at Mercy this year, Mr. Schaefer said, but only 325 dorm beds are available. In response, the college has leased 180 beds at the Marriott Hotel in nearby Tarrytown, providing shuttle service and requiring that students comply with the campus curfew and other rules. The cost to the student at a hotel is the same as at a dorm.

The Marriott chain has a similar arrangement with other colleges, including Marist in Poughkeepsie, said Peter Maruzzella, a sales representative. Like many other hotel franchises, the Marriott has seen occupancy rates drop in the past two years, and welcomes colleges as paying guests, he said.

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