Laws, Lathrop to close ahead of schedule

This is the last semester MU students will be staying in Laws and Lathrop residence halls.

The closing of the two dorms has been part of the University of Missouri’s residential hall master plan, but with projected enrollment down for next semester, the schedule has been moved up.

“We have two of them that are scheduled for replacement and so we took a look at the schedule and found that we could save a significant amount of money if we could adjusted that schedule,” said Christian Basi, directer for MU News Bureau.

ABC 17 reported last week that interim chancellor Hank Foley sent out a memo reporting that next semester’s projected enrollment is worse than previously thought.

Administrators expect upwards of 1,500 fewer students to attend MU, which could mean a shortfall of around $32 million.

MU officials said the university is going to take the opportunity of lower enrollment to save money by closing the two residential halls four months early.

Officials said the school will save more than $200,000 in moving and utility costs.

After the demolition of the two buildings, MU will most likely replace them with new residential halls, but it all depends on future enrollment numbers.

“Do we see our enrollment supporting the construction of additional halls? And so, we’ll take a look and make a decision at that point in time,” said Basi.