Graduate Student and Family Housing
Overview
Among the University’s goals in advancing its research mission is to improve its position in attracting quality graduate students. While many factors affect recruitment of top-tier graduate students, the type and cost of housing available is certainly one that is part of most graduate student’s decision about a school. For international students housing provided by the University is especially important, and is often preferred for the entire duration of their time spent here. For U.S. students not familiar with this area on campus housing is frequently desired for their first year.
It is recognized that Babcock Hall is not suitable or desirable for contemporary single graduate students. The Forest Park apartments have limited life remaining in them, and this location has been identified for future expansion of undergraduate housing because of its proximity to one of the campus dining halls. Before that undergraduate housing expansion can occur, replacement of the Forest Park apartments in some other location will be necessary.
It is against this backdrop that the University undertook a housing market analysis to determine demand for and interest in graduate and family housing. This study was completed in 2010 and provides the type and quantity of housing that the University should be planning for. You can see a table illustrating the findings and recommendations for the types, quantities, and pricing of graduate and family housing that the University would provide. The study did not address the specific locations for such housing.
Evaluations of Site Options
As in the 2004 Campus Master Plan, the University continues to evaluate appropriate sites for relocating and expanding graduate student and family housing on the campus. Eleven sites have been re-evaluated with consultation from campus constituent groups. Site criteria include proximity and accessibility to core campus, environment suitable for families and/or single graduate students, access to downtown grocery store and drug store, competing interests of other campus space needs. The need to be proximate to the campus and to the shopping plaza makes sites along the eastern edge of campus most desirable for both single graduate students and families. Locations in the downtown could work well for single graduate students, but not for families.
