Last week, St. Francis Xavier University announced it surpassed the provincial government’s residence occupancy requirement with a 98 per cent on-campus housing rate for the current academic year.
A provincial mandate means Nova Scotia universities must maintain a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent in student residences.
Cameron Hall, St. FX University. (Ken Kingston photo)
STFX has around 1,750 students living in 11 residences across campus. The residence application portal for the coming academic year already opened, with almost 1,500 students applying to live on campus.
University leaders attribute the strong occupancy rate not only to demand for housing, but also to sustained efforts to strengthen residence culture and student engagement.
Elizabeth Yeo, vice president of students at STFX, stated the momentum in residence life reflects the university’s broader Being Xaverian strategy, which focuses on belonging, wellness, respect, and engagement.
A release from STFX states staff initiatives included increasing the availability of single rooms, expanding social media outreach with virtual residence and dining hall tours, and opening applications earlier to support student planning, and early outreach to actively support belonging and success.