The Student Housing Matters blog explores ideas with leaders in higher education and the student housing profession. This is the place to find stories from those who have worked in the field for many years, podcast interviews, and videos about relevant topics in the student housing world.

It’s about matters relating to on-campus student housing, as well as why quality on-campus student housing really matters. We want this blog to serve as a forum for sharing ideas and insights about how your on-campus student housing can do things beyond simply housing students. How it can be used as a more powerful tool to recruit and retain students on your campus. We look forward to you joining us in the conversation.

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On-Campus Student Housing

Blog

5 Design Hacks to Make Study Lounges Irresistible

October 7, 2025

Move-in hype fades fast. What keeps students on campus—and coming back to the same space night after night—is a study lounge that works. Here are five field-tested design strategies you can roll out quickly (with fast, low-cost options) to turn “meh” rooms into magnets for focus and collaboration. 1) Zone the room (and say it…

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Blog

7 Hacks for Streamlining Move-In—Boost Satisfaction from Day One

September 29, 2025

Move-in day sets the tone for the entire year. A smooth first hour builds trust with students (and their families); a bumpy one is hard to shake. Here’s a simple, field-tested playbook you can run next term to keep lines short, elevators moving, and smiles up. 1) Lock the date before the date (pre-arrival flow) Why…

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Blog

Maximizing Occupancy: Amenity Upgrades That Pay Back

September 3, 2025

In student housing, amenities are more than a checklist of features — they’re strategic assets. From quiet study lounges to modern fitness centers and vibrant outdoor spaces, the amenities you invest in can directly influence student satisfaction, lease renewals, and long-term occupancy trends. But which upgrades deliver the greatest return? And how can you ensure…

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Blog

The Benefits of Third-Party Management in Student Housing

August 13, 2025

Discover how partnering with a specialized operator like COCM drives efficiency, resident satisfaction, compliance, scalability, and data-driven improvements—backed by real COCM insights. Managing student housing on U.S. campuses today demands balancing tight budgets, evolving student expectations, regulatory compliance, and the rapid turnover of a 24/7 residential community. That’s where a specialized third-party management partner excels.…

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Join the Conversation – Dr. Artie Travis Transcript

March 27, 2025

Host: Kyle Jones, Director of MarketingGuest: Dr. Artie L. Travis, Vice President for Student Affairs, Frostburg State University Kyle Jones:Hello, I’m Kyle Jones. Welcome to Join the Conversation, a podcast from COCM. Today’s guest is Dr. Artie L. Travis. He brings over four decades of experience in higher education leadership. As Vice President for Student…

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COCM Becomes 100% Employee-Owned Student Housing Company

October 2, 2024

COCM (Capstone On-Campus Management), the leading provider of third-party management services for on-campus housing, proudly announces it has become a 100% employee-owned and operated company. The transition to an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) closed on July 31, 2024, positioning COCM as the only employee-owned on-campus student housing company.  Becoming a 100% employee-owned company affords…

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P3 Project Breaks Ground on $148.8m Graduate Student Housing at University of Maryland

October 1, 2024

College Park, Md. — A public-private partnership (P3) between Campus Apartments, Mosaic Development Partners and Capstone On-Campus Management at the University of Maryland has broken ground on a $148.8 million graduate student housing project on the university’s campus in College Park. The community is the first of a larger, three-phase development that will replace the existing…

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Blog

Brian Kraft talks growing trends with Student Housing Business Magazine

February 28, 2024

View the full article in Student Housing Business Magazine’s latest issue. Operating On-Campus A look at some of the growing trends and best practices for third-party management on-campus. By Katie Sloan Enrollment is continuing to rise at many universities across the country — a fact which, alone, would be likely to substantiate a rise in…

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Podcast

Creating a Positive Living Experience – with COCM’s Maria Saad

February 21, 2023

For Maria Saad, of the COCM team providing guidance and making a positive impact on students’ lives is not just a job—it’s a passion. On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Maria sits down to share her insights on the student housing industry. As someone who believes that ‘it’s more of a learning experience for…

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Podcast

Diversity in American Higher Education – with Frank Wu

March 8, 2022

There are over 100 languages spoken at Queens College. It is one of the most diverse higher education institutions in the United States.  So how can other colleges, universities, and companies across the country become more proactive in their diversity efforts? Frank Wu is the first Asian American President of Queens College in New York.…

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