At the last Board of Regents meeting, UNI was officially approved to purchase The Quarters apartments. Featuring 11 buildings and 480 beds, the $21.1 million complex boasts a pool, and sand volleyball and basketball courts. The Quarters will be available for students to reside in as a part of University Housing and Dining facilities this fall.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, 3,193 students signed a housing contract with UNI Housing and Dining, which is a 2.5% increase from the 2023-2024 academic year, and a 10.3% increase from the 2022-2023 academic year. With the number of students signing leases with UNI continuing to rise, combined with the demand for on-campus apartment-style living rising, the university sought out an accommodation to UNI’s growth and student needs. The Quarters is located near the McLeod Center, just a block from the quad dormitories.
Although The Quarters apartments will be available for students to live in as a UNI Housing and Dining facility this fall, there are students that live there currently that have already renewed their leases for the 2025-2026 academic year. According to Michael Hager, UNI vice president of finances and operations, students who have already renewed their leases will have their leases honored, including pricing in contracts. Pete Moris, UNI director of public relations, also anticipates that Hawkeye Community College and Allen College of Nursing students will be able to live in the Quarters facility, as they’re able to live in other UNI Housing and Dining facilities. Moris was unable to confirm if there are non-student residents who have renewed their lease for the 2025-2026 academic year.
“For the current residents, not much will change,” said Moris. “We want to make as smooth of a transition as possible for everybody.” Moris also detailed that this summer facilities management will take to The Quarters to repair ordinary maintenance of rooms and buildings to ensure that residents moving in that fall don’t encounter any facilities issues. While Moris couldn’t confirm or deny if The Quarters pool would remain, Moris did say that facilities management and Housing and Dining are more focused on immediate maintenance on rooms and buildings to improve student tenant living. “Facilities management does a great job of making sure our campus buildings are as energy efficient as we can make them … I think that’s more the focus right now,” said Moris.
While students do prefer apartment-style living, some students have voiced frustration with the purchase. Some students have voiced concerns about the purchase on Instagram and Yik Yak, with questions regarding rent increases and community changes after Housing and Dining has finalized its purchase. There are several residents of The Quarters who have expressed that they chose The Quarters out of accessibility and affordability, which they worry could go away this fall. One resident, Bella Serrano, echoes these concerns. “I lived on campus for two years and did not enjoy the second … I would not live at The Quarters if it was owned by the school,” said Serrano. “It is overly expensive and there are overly strict rules that residents are expected to follow.” While official lease pricing hasn’t been released, four bedroom apartments in Panther Village are leased for $7,240 per person per academic year, as noted on the UNI Housing and Dining website. As of right now, The Quarters solely feature four bedroom apartments. “Every single fellow resident I have talked to also doesn’t want the school to own our apartment as it reduces freedom and increases cost of living,” Serrano said. UNI Housing and Dining’s plan for staffing The Quarters facilities with resident assistants and residence life coordinators is yet to be determined.
UNI anticipates that students will be able to sign leases for The Quarters facility after housing contracts are sent out this semester, while still honoring renewed leases that were signed for the next academic year. As Housing and Dining continues to strategize its repairs, rules and rates for The Quarters facility, the Northern Iowan will continue to update as more details are unveiled.
