For many students next year, roommates may be a thing of the past as more single dormitory rooms open up across Miami University's campus.

With the recent Heritage Commons housing expansion, Miami University is satisfying students' demand for privacy by creating 200 additional single rooms for the upcoming semester, said Lucinda Coveney, director of housing contracts and meal plans.

"We have always had a very high demand for single rooms, more than we could satisfy in past years," Coveney said. "When we added the new housing (Heritage Commons) and increased the capacity, one of the first things on our mind is we need to allow and provide more singles for students. A lot of students want that environment and privacy."

About 50 past double rooms are now singles, 125 small doubles can be bought out as singles and 25 premiere singles have been created to help ebb this tide, Coveney said.

A premiere single, a small double turned single that may be located in Porter, Brandon or McFarland halls, adheres to any resident's needs and wants, Coveney said. As a way to make moving in and out easier, the rooms come fully carpeted with a window air conditioner, double bed, refrigerator and microwave.

Every year, the Office of Student Housing and Meal Plan Services maintains a waiting list for singles. Although in the past they were able to satisfy only 40-50 of those requests, Coveney said she sees these rooms not only as a way to please students but also a way to renovate housing.

"We need to meet the needs of the modern student," Coveney said. "We understand these residence halls were built a long time ago and we're working to try to make on-campus living more attractive."

Rob Abowitz, associate director of residence life and new student programs, agrees with Coveney and said he hopes to see more students staying in the dorms.

"I think the changes in the singles are good because it creates more options for upper-class students who want to live alone but who still want to live on campus," he said.

Although these rooms are available to first-year students, Abowitz recommends their use for only upper-class students.

"I always encourage first-years to room with a roommate because it's a great learning experience," he said.

A majority of the rooms were given away this fall in the new online lottery system. The general first-year residence hall selection process will begin Feb. 22.

Other plans include the developing of super quads, which are three connected rooms with two outer rooms as traditional bedrooms, individual shower stalls and pseudo home theatres in common areas.