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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Student Housing

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.

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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…

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Podcast

How I Got into Student Housing – with Jeremy Biddy

August 31, 2018

Join the Conversation Podcast How I Got into Student Housing – with Jeremy Biddy Many professionals in the world of student housing began as RAs, gaining exposure to the industry as college students and eventually realizing the opportunity to pursue a career in the space. But what if you weren’t a resident assistant in college?…

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Podcast

How I Got Into Student Housing: Kelly Podach Francis

August 29, 2018

Join the Conversation Podcast How I Got Into Student Housing – with Kelly Podach Francis When a residence hall comes in under budget, that money can be invested in the building itself. But how do you make decisions around what improvements to prioritize? Kelly Podach Francis designs an action plan based on student feedback, and…

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Podcast

Driving Innovation at the Urban Research University

August 15, 2018

Join the Conversation Podcast Driving Innovation at the Urban Research University – with Harlan Sands How can an urban research university serve as an anchor for its community—attracting employers and giving talent a reason to stay in the city after graduation? Harlan Sands believes that the key is to serve as a hub of innovation,…

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Podcast

Rebuilding the Reputation of a Struggling Site

July 11, 2018

Join the Conversation Podcast Rebuilding the Reputation of a Struggling Site – with Jeremy Steed ‘We came in humble and approachable, wanting to collaborate.’ How do you turn around a student housing site that has spiraled into decline? Where do you begin when all of the problems—occupancy, reputation and facility issues—are intertwined? How do you…

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Podcast

From RA to Operations Director – with Jeremy Steed

June 15, 2018

Join the Conversation From RA to Operations Director – with Jeremy Steed   Time management. Customer service. Conflict mediation. Critical thinking. Teamwork.   Whatever your motivation for becoming a resident assistant, the position allows you to hone a number of incredibly valuable skills that carry over to any career you might choose to pursue. And…

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Figuring Out How Many Beds You Need Keeping You Awake at Night?

November 13, 2017

We’ve got an App for that!   Introducing the Student Housing Calculator.  About 10 years ago, COCM developed a proprietary tool called the Student Housing Calculator, to help take the mystery and confusion out of the planning process for a campus housing program.  It is a tool we have used to assist numerous institutions with their…

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COCM Student Housing Professional – Shelby Riddle

June 9, 2017

Earlier this month, COCM’s Merchant Card Services Coordinator, Shelby Riddle, was invited by Regions Bank to participate in a panel for their Commercial Card User Forum in Nashville, TN. Shelby discussed topics such as: Card management tips for organizations Best practices for misuse/fraud COCM’s overall commercial card program Efficient expense reporting and reconciliation processes COCM custom reporting…

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