Communicating Campus Housing's Value

Campus housing and residence life departments, at their best, provide value to the student residents, the institutions that host them, the staff who help shape them, and, ultimately, the overall mission of higher education. Research shows the positive impact campus housing can have on student performance and retention. It provides students with a sense of belonging and exposes them to a wide and varied range of viewpoints and experiences. On many campuses, housing occupancy is instrumental to the entire institution’s operating budget. But how does it help others understand that value?

Along with doing the work, communicating the value and outcomes of projects, programs, and practices will be a vital step in almost every undertaking and will become even more so as off-campus housing options become more attractive and plentiful. Campus housing professionals – no matter their job title – must redefine and strategically communicate the return on investment of the traditional campus experience and ensure it aligns with institutional goals and new definitions of affordability.