More than 80 students may have to call a four-star hotel their “home” when classes start at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus August 22. For the first time, Taylor Place, the only dorm on campus, is overcrowded.
The excess students will stay at the nearby Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel "until bed space becomes available," according to an ASU housing statement.
ASU Downtown Phoenix information specialist Marshall Terrill said that there is no timetable for how long the students might stay there.
"However long they stay at the Westin, ASU is going to pick up that cost. If it's an entire semester, mom and dad don't have to pay for their student to stay there, that's going to be on ASU," Terrill said. "However, again, what our hope is that they'll be placed in Taylor Place either before the start of the school semester or the two weeks following the fall move in."
Terrill said he does not know any specifics about the housing deal with the Westin, but that this is the definite "back-up plan."
And not a bad one at that, as the students will have "full access" to hotel amenities, including maid service.