They told the guys getting out of the private pilot ground school class right now (Spring 2018) not to expect to get thru the waitlist until late Fall 2018 or maybe even early 2019. They are (obviously) aware of the long wait times and are working to mitigate it. I think they are working on hiring some more CFIs or maybe already have. Also, they are trying to let people get their private pilot time outside the university with dean approval and still stay within the whole part 141 deal. Once you get to commercial flying and up it isn't as bad and it seems like the wait times generally are improving (or at least not getting worse).
You could call or swing by the flight ops office in the aviation bldg on Merrill Field there and get it straight from them if you want something better than hearsay, I don't think they'll sugarcoat it too much.