Northern Arizona University's director of residence life has a problem he rather likes: Every bed, and then some, in campus housing is spoken for.

More than 3,300 incoming freshmen requested campus housing, said Rich Payne, NAU's director of residence life.

That number of requests alone indicates NAU is poised to welcome its third-straight, record-setting freshman class when the fall semester begins Monday.

University officials say the influx of first-time students is up 14 percent over last year at this time, and they think the 21-day census will hold that increase at between 10 percent and 14 percent, even though there are bound to be some students who don't show up or end up leaving before the 21-day count.

WAITING LIST FOR CAMPUS HOUSING

Payne says it might take a week or two to find permanent housing for all students who requested it — NAU has room for 6,666 students.

For late housing applicants it will probably mean bunking in a converted lounges or with a resident assistant until Greek rush is over and pledges can move in to Mountain View Hall, or some students decide NAU isn't for them.

As many as 300 students will be in temporary housing until a permanent assignment can be made, Payne said.

"We're going to accommodate everyone," he said.

More than 90 percent of the incoming freshman will live in campus housing.

About 360 of those freshmen will be moving into the latest residence hall addition to campus, Aspen Crossing Learning Community.

"Without this we would have had to turn students away," Payne said of Aspen Crossing.

Janitorial staff spent last week putting the final touches on the three-story, $30 million building, while grounds crews furiously graded where the outdoor volleyball courts and grassy area will be to the south of the building.

All the halls opened Thursday. Payne expected about 70 percent of the students to check in Thursday, with the remaining balance moving in over the next three days.

There were the usual hiccups related to parking and unloading, but NAU officials had volunteers directing students and families to parking lots and lending their muscles to carry boxes and bags to dorm rooms.

"It's thousands of people converging on campus," Payne said. "The biggest challenge is getting everyone parked and moved in."

Also on Thursday, outside custodial staff and moving crews were brought in to move out the Arizona Cardinals players and staff and media from Pine Ridge and Gabaldon halls. The Cardinals ended their monthlong, NAU-based training camp in the afternoon.

"We're turning both of those buildings around now," Payne said Thursday. "All in all, it's going well."

CLASS & CREDIT CRUNCHES, TOO?

University officials said NAU has hired additional faculty to accommodate extra freshman sections necessitated by student growth. The university will spend about $1.3 million on faculty to teach those classes.

The credit crunch in the financial markets has put a squeeze on some students seeking college loans, but NAU does not participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program, which uses private lenders, university officials said.

NAU does participate in the Direct Lending loan program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, which has not encountered any issues or problems, NAU officials said. They added that the amount of money NAU receives from private lenders is nominal compared with the Direct Lending funds.

Laura Clymer can be reached at lclymer@azdailysun.com or 913-8601.