A newly proposed housing plan at Pitzer College aimed at addressing the college’s ongoing housing issues is raising concerns about student living situations and shedding light on the college’s financial budget deficit. If approved, the plan is projected to go into effect next spring.
Pioneered by Pitzer’s Residence Life Office, the new plan could significantly alter the college’s housing process. According to the plan, future sophomores will be given housing options at the college’s West, East and Skandera Halls as well as at the Pitzer Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA) building. Juniors and seniors will be given housing options at Mead Hall and the CCA building.
On Oct. 29, Pitzer College’s Director of Residence Life Leticia Romo held a town hall meeting to discuss this newly drafted housing plan.
As of right now, the college has 1,227 students, and housing capacity for 998 students according to Pitzer’s Institutional Research Office. There is a considerable population of students who go abroad or choose not to live on campus.
Residence Life places students who register to live on campus but are unable to find housing on a waitlist. In the last two years, 17-25 students have been put on the waitlist. Though students on the waitlist are typically assigned housing before the fall semester begins.
While the plan has yet to be finalized or approved, it is already generating criticism among some students for what they described as a lack of attention to student perspectives during the initial drafting process.
“Another decision in a long line of decisions made on our behalf without our input at an institution that prides itself on prioritizing student input,” Thomas Merrilees PZ ’26 said.
The new plan is not the only way that the college is working to address the housing crisis, though. On Oct. 17, Pitzer’s Board of Trustees discussed the possibility of building a new dormitory — a potential solution for the increased tendency of students to request single-room accommodations and to stay on campus for all four years.
However, the discussion of the construction of this new dormitory comes amidst a financial budget deficit at Pitzer. According to the college’s 2023-2024 Financial Results, low enrollment contributed to a $1.3 million “unfavorable variance to budget in net student revenue.” Total expenses were $2.3 million over the budget.
Pitzer has already been working to address its budget problem, in part by enrolling larger classes each year. The newly admitted class of 2028, comprised of 317 students, is the largest in the college’s history, according to Pitzer President Strom Thacker.
Some students, like Ezra Levinson PZ ’27, expressed concern about how these class sizes and increased enrollment could exacerbate the housing crisis.
From this concern, Levinson urged those who could possibly be affected by the tentative housing plan to take action and get involved in the discussion.
“Get loud about it, get organized and maybe things shift for the better,” Levinson said.
Before the new housing plan can be launched, Residence Life plans to collect feedback from the Residence Hall Council and the Student Senate and make “applicable edits,” according to the town hall slideshow. Because the plan is currently being drafted and has not yet been presented to the Student Senate, it can still be altered.
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