Decline in enrollment closes Midwestern State University Texas dorm

A decline in enrollment and a subsequent decline in on-campus housing demand has prompted Midwestern State University to close one dormitory next school year.

Kristi Schulte, director of residence life & housing, confirmed Pierce Hall will not reopen for the fall semester.

More: MSU enrollment down 1%, declining retention a factor

"We made the decision to consolidate residents into Killingsworth Hall next year," Schulte said. "If we see a significant rise in occupancy then we would plan on reopening the facility. We'll take that on a year-by-year basis."

Pierce Hall, one of the older dormitories, has a capacity of 212 students and is currently at 75 percent occupancy. Occupancy of all 1,737 on-campus rooms is at 82 percent of capacity. That includes four dormitories and two apartment complexes.

Schulte blames low occupancy on the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We certainly see -- like many other schools in the state -- a little bit of a dip post-pandemic. Part of that might be students who lived on campus have opted to stay at home," she said. "We have lower numbers of international students. It's really just following the overall trends we've seen throughout the state."

Enrollment is down about one percent at MSU.

"Housing will always be driven by enrollment," Schulte said.

More: EDUCATION: MSU’s new dorm: Ready for move-in day, though final touches may remain

Pierce Hall was also closed temporarily in 2017 in anticipation of the opening of the new Legacy Hall, a $35 million, 500-room dorm.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Enrollment decline closes Midwestern State University Texas dorm