The University of Arizona’s Kaibab-Huachuca dorm building will not welcome new students this fall as part of structural changes to campus housing for the 2025-2026 academic year.
According to Ali Santander, associate director of marketing and communications for UA Housing and Residential Life, projections showed occupancy would be lower than previous years, so it was logical to close a dorm.
KAHU was specifically chosen for closure by UA Housing and Residential Life for several reasons. Santander explained that in previous years, KAHU has had less demand than other dorms, and the number of beds fit the needs for a reduction in occupancy. Housing officials emphasized that dorm communities “thrive better when the dorm is close to full capacity,” making the closure a strategic decision to maximize occupancy in the remaining dorms.
The future of KAHU remains unknown. “We are currently evaluating next year’s projected incoming first-year class to determine our projected occupancy and any adjustments we might need to make,” Santander said.
This change comes amid a plausible decline in student enrollment. New students weren’t the only ones affected by this change. Rypli Donahue, who was originally hired to be a KAHU residential assistant, was reassigned to be a residential assistant at the Coronado dorm.
“The Kaibab RAs were reached out to by HSG-RA selection informing us that we were going to be relocated due to the dorm being closed for low enrollment,” Donahue said.
While there has been no official announcement by the UA, there was an estimated 6% decline in non-resident students and a 4% drop in international student enrollment from a June Arizona Board of Regents meeting. That said, other estimations depicted a higher percentage decline in enrollment.
The university hasn’t cited a specific reason for the decline or confirmed specific changes in enrollment. Certain alterations to admissions processes may play a role. The university will no longer admit students on a rolling basis, rather applications will be reviewed holistically and considered for scholarships.
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