Confusion has been put to rest about the new residence hall complex.

The belief that the new residence hall will house only first-year students is a misconception, university officials have said.

Initial press releases referred to the hall to as the “new first-year residence hall;” news items on the NIU website and NIU Today called it that as recently as April.

Since then the complex has been referred to as “new residence hall” and does not currently have an official name. The complex will open to all students in fall 2012.

The new complex is intended to retain freshmen and new students, but the intent was never for it to house just them. Brandi Hephner LaBanc, associate vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said the university wants to recruit and retain new students as well as serve current students.

The new hall has space reserved for the honors program, but won’t house them exclusively.

“[The new residence hall complex] is intended for honors students like it is intended for new students, but not exclusively,” said Michael Stang, executive director of Housing and Dining.

Space, at this point, isn’t reserved for new students specifically, Stang said.

“We know this won’t be desired by all incoming students,” Stang said. “We want to have spaces for both incoming freshman and current students.”

According to information from Housing and Dining, current students living on campus can sign up to live in the new residence hall complex for the 2012-2013 school year starting Wednesday. Other NIU residence halls will be assigned by lottery starting Nov. 29.

The new residence hall complex also will have other amenities.

“We want to be able to offer campus accommodations that students are excited about and interested in,” Hephner LaBanc said.

The new residence hall complex, a 1,000-bed facility, will include clusters with a study area, living area and kitchenette for each area.