Talking Stick - May/June 2016 - 30

SPECIAL FOCUS
commented on the financial challenge:
"Deferred maintenance is a big issue
facing Canadian post-secondary
institutions due to the lack of funding
saved and available for residences
from the institutions to address aging
facilities. Post-secondary institutions are
provincial entities, and many provincial
governments consider institutional debt
their own debt, making it impossible to
borrow to address deferred maintenance
or to build new residences."
Affordability of campus residence
halls was also a major concern, as
noted by 26 percent of respondents.
Many students expect amenities such
as exercise rooms, recreational areas,
and group study rooms, and housing
departments must try to compete
with off-campus units that offer more
amenities and lower rates. Brandon
Barile, director of residential education
at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
in Geneva, New York, noted, "The rising
costs of higher education will bring great

scrutiny to what is actually necessary,
particularly when housing amenities will
be seen as an extra. We face budget cuts
and are being asked to provide excellent,
caring student support services and
facilities with fewer resources." Debbie
Scheibler, assistant director of housing
and residence life at Rutgers UniversityCamden in New Jersey, echoed this
sentiment. "This is problematic because
much of the local housing that students
are choosing to move in to isn't as
safe for our student community as the
residence halls would be, and the high
cost of room and board isn't doing
anything to help my low occupancy
numbers."
In addition to identifying challenges
that face the profession, respondents
also offered suggestions about how to
keep housing and residence life at the
forefront of a positive academic and social
experience for students. When asked
for suggestions about research topics,
37 percent mentioned investigating the

impact of residence halls on student
retention and success. Josh Skillman,
associate director of housing and
residence life at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis, said
that this impact provides an edge in their
competition with off-campus housing.
"Many non-university-partnered,
off-campus properties market lower
prices, a social atmosphere, and better
amenities to entice students to live off
campus, but these properties often do
not focus on the environment needed to
help students succeed. If we are honest
with ourselves, we probably cannot
beat off-campus pricing for a variety
of reasons. Therefore, we must focus
on why living on campus is more than
worth the cost and how the choice to
live on campus is life-altering for those
who live on campus and get involved."
Housing professionals understand that
living on campus enhances student
 CONTINUES  67

Shape the

Inspired

®

WESTERN CAMPUS RESIDENCE HALLS

| MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Miami completely redid Western campus and it's
beautiful! The rooms are much bigger now and
the common areas are great.

- WESTERN CAMPUS RESIDENT
30

TALKING STICK

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Talking Stick - May/June 2016

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