Category: Residence Life

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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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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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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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.…

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…

Podcast

The Supply Chain’s Effects on the Furniture Industry and Student Housing – with the Division 12 Team

February 24, 2022

We all know about the supply chain issue. But what is the impact on the furniture industry and student housing? Listen in as the team from Division Twelve discusses furniture industry trends, the supply chain issue, and how student housing can prepare for the challenges ahead.

Podcast

Achieve 100% Occupancy in a New Student Housing Community – with ReNesha Martin

November 30, 2021

How do you achieve 100% occupancy in a new student housing community—during a pandemic? Today on Student Housing Matters, RaNesha Martin shares her experience launching the new Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community at Bowie State University, explaining what differentiates the ELLC and how student involvement in marketing and recruitment contributed to the project’s success.

Podcast

Connecting with the Students We Serve – with Meera Ramsoondar-Cuevas 2020 Excel Award Winner

March 30, 2021

Western University of Health Sciences takes a whole-student approach to educating future healthcare professionals. And that complements the way COCM’s Meera Ramsoondar-Cuevas serves her team and the students she works with, connecting with people through the lens of their individual experience. Meera is the Director of Housing Operations at The Daumier at Western University of…

Podcast

Residence Life in the COVID Era – with Katherine Warren

January 15, 2021

Student housing professionals have faced one challenge after another in 2020. When it comes to residence life, this has not been an ideal year, as the pandemic has kept us from doing most of our traditional programming.

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Top Channels for Communicating with Students – with Mellissa Taylor

April 10, 2020

During her tenure at COCM, Mellissa Taylor quickly became known among students as The Housing Lady. So, what did she learn as the face and voice of student housing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham? How have those lessons around communicating with students carried over to her current role in higher ed?Mellissa serves as…

Podcast

Perspectives on Student Housing Facilities and Operations – Recorded LIVE at the 2019 Annual Meeting with COCM Assistant Directors

April 10, 2019

What all is involved in running a student housing site? And who are the people behind the scenes managing and operating all the jobs that need to get done? During the 2019 COCM Annual Meeting, we sat down with four assistant directors – with various roles, including building operations, maintenance, business operation, and residence life – to learn from their experiences and stories.

Podcast

21st Century Challenges Facing Higher Education – with Brian Mitchell

September 6, 2018

Join the Conversation Podcast 21st Century Challenges Facing Higher Education – with Brian Mitchell There is no doubt that institutions of higher learning face a number of challenges, not the least of which is an unsustainable financial model. Tuition, fees, room and board no longer pay the bills—despite sticker prices as high as $72K a…