Ferris State University’s Pickell and Hallisy hall are closing and scheduled to be permanently removed from campus.
Students living in these residence halls received an email last week from Ferris housing stating that Hallisy and Pickell halls would close for the 2026-2027 academic year, with Henderson Hall designated as the new honors hall for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The reasoning stated in the email for the closure was to provide the opportunity to continue improvement on campus housing options, with the new student dorm on Top Taggart Field expected to open for the fall 2026 semester.
Further reassurance was offered to students in the email, outlining other living options available to students on campus.
The decision was communicated suddenly without warning, leaving many students confused on where to go or what to do.
Accounting senior Ethan Boswell expressed shock and disappointment at the university’s lack of regard or consideration for student well-being.
“I was more than surprised. The school gave us no warning that this was coming,” Boswell said. “All we were told is that the hall was closing for improvements. Many people that I know have already signed leases for next year. I am not sure why they are so keen to close and renovate.”
Boswell further explained that he is a student from out of state, which meant that this change will have little effect on him as a senior.
He further elaborated that the housing option of summer storage has allowed him to store his belongings while he goes home between semesters, but expressed that other out of state students may now not be so lucky.
“If I had another year to complete it would mean more expenses in moving items,” Boswell said. “As college students, finding a way to pinch a penny is vital. With the school giving this notice late into the fall, it’s difficult.”
Boswell additionally noted that while Pickell is an older building on campus, the condition is not terrible or necessarily unlivable.
Other students are concerned that they could be in the same situation.
Medical laboratory science senior Emily Heintzlman expressed concern about how students will find new housing with such short notice and for the future of other living spaces on campus.
“If they’re doing it to two of them, they could do it to any of them,” Heintzlman said.
Pickell and Hallisy are the latest buildings in line on campus to be closed and removed, following faculty in Johnson Hall receiving notification late last spring that they have to be out of the building and transitioned into new offices by December.
Many students over the years have expressed frustration with university communication, particularly in regard to housing.
Biotechnology junior Katie Armstrong explained that she has experienced communication issues with housing before, which is unfair and frustrating for students.
“I feel housing has problems communicating with students in general. I’ve had some issues with communication with housing before,” Armstrong said. “Other parts of the university are good, just certain parts I find aren’t right.”
She further expressed that it felt unfair for students to be displaced without guaranteed housing.
With the removal of Pickell and Hallisy, students have 13 housing options available, including East Campus Suites and West Campus Apartments.
The 13th option will be the new dorm currently under construction, which has been reported to be available for the fall 26 semester.
According to the MyHousing portal in Ferris360, return student contracting for campus living opened on Nov. 5, with the announcement of hall closures made shortly after contracting opened.
The university has yet to release any further details or updates on this situation.