Durham, N.C. — Hundreds of new and returning students at North Carolina Central University in Durham will be on their own to find housing this school year, the university said Saturday.

University spokeswoman Ayana Hernandez said NCCU is welcoming its largest-ever freshman class of 1,400 students and can't accommodate all of them in campus residence halls.

The university guarantees campus housing to students who apply and pay a housing fee by May 1. After that time, spaces in campus housing are doled out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

By Thursday, it became apparent that NCCU would have about 500 more students than spots, Hernandez said. Those students and their families were notified and offered a list of off-campus alternatives.

"My daughter's frustrated, and I'm definitely frustrated," said Theresa Conyer. "I think if you had to move upperclassmen off the campus for freshman to have housing, that's what you should've done."

Hernandez said those who didn't get a guaranteed on-campus spot would be notified, again on a first-come, first-served basis, if any spots open up as students move in.

Sunday marks the beginning of the NCCU "Week of Welcome," and classes start on Aug. 20.