Recent housing policy changes at the University of New Haven (UNH) have left upperclassmen frustrated and looking for alternatives. The school recently reassigned Celentano and Dunham Hall– traditionally sought-after dorms for juniors and seniors – to sophomores, which limited affordable housing options for upperclassmen. As a result, these students are forced to consider more expensive options or off-campus accommodations.
The housing portal message said “Important updates for the 2025/2026 academic year: rising sophomore residence halls: Celentano Hall, Dunham Hall, Sheffield Hall and Winchester Hall. Rising Junior/Senior residence halls: The Atwood, Campbell House, Park View, Forest Hills, Ruden St. Apartments and Savin Court.”
To live on campus in Winchester Hall the average price for room and board is around $12,000 dollars. To live in Parkview the average room and board is around $16,000 dollars. It is also important to note that Parkview and the Atwood apartments are 12-month leases, which can impact students graduating a semester early. To live in Celentano Hall, a single occupancy room costs around $14,500 while a double occupancy room is $13,400.
Celentano Hall, known for its modern amenities and convenient location, has historically been reserved for upperclassmen. Increasing the frustration around the situation is also the lack of communication surrounding the change. Students say they did not receive any communication and were updated via social media and/or housing portal messages, which left them with little time to prepare.
The change has led to the creation of a Change.org petition, which demands the reinstatement of better housing options for juniors and seniors. The petition, which has gained significant traction, features comments from students expressing disappointment and anger. Some comments include : “Upperclassmen should not be forced to lose their buildings due to the school accepting too many students,” from someone identified as “Josh”. “Rose” wrote “extremely unprofessional and disappointing,” criticizing the university for prioritizing first-year enrollment numbers at the expense of its established students.
Parents also expressed their concerns on Facebook, with some reporting they only learned about the policy change from their children. While some parents downplayed the change as “no big deal,” others criticized the university’s poor communication and lack of transparency. One parent wrote, “It’s not about the housing itself; it’s about the failure to properly inform students and families who are directly impacted by this decision.” Another parent said, “University of New Haven broke promises. Forcing upperclassmen off-campus after promising better housing during tours is misleading. Who do we address this issue to? I’m considering taking my tuition dollars elsewhere.”
The university’s administrative account, Charlie the Charger, responded on Facebook with a statement addressing concerns about the 2025-26 room selection process and listing the university-sponsored housing options for rising juniors and seniors. It also highlighted that these semi-independent housing locations are serviced by university transportation, monitored by public safety personnel and offer flexible meal plans along with support from resident assistants and professional staff.
International students are particularly affected by the change. Sophomore Mikhael Venezia said, “before enrolling, UNH guaranteed international students on-campus housing for all four years and provided a list of available housing options.” This guarantee was a key factor in her decision to attend UNH, as other universities only offered international students two years of on-campus housing.
“Being an international student without a car on campus is already challenging, but being forced to live off-campus without transportation or other necessary resources is an even greater burden,” said sophomore Shana-Kay Natasha. She expressed disappointment in the university’s lack of communication.
To clarify the situation, Cindy Sanders, director of Residential Life, as well as the Office of Residential Life, sent a campus-wide email on Jan. 28 acknowledging student concerns. In her statement, Sanders said the decision was informed by a recent decline in upperclassmen demand for Celentano Halls. She also said that for the 2025-26 academic year, some rooms in Celentano will be set aside for juniors and seniors, particularly those with an approved modified-housing request. The email went on to outline additional options for students and next steps.
Housing issues are a long-standing campus issue, including disparities of amenities such as central air conditioning and older dorms such as Bethel Hall, which lack elevators and other facilities. Health concerns, including mold found in buildings like Bergami and Dunham Halls, have also been raised.
For now, many students hope the petition and growing student dissatisfaction put pressure on the administration to reconsider its approach to housing. While different dorms offer varying amenities or a lack thereof, students said that housing options should remain a choice.
