Share:
Host: Kyle Jones, Director of Marketing
Guest: 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 Affairs at Frostburg State University, he oversees a broad range of student-focused departments—from residential life and diversity initiatives to counseling and career services.
Throughout his career, Dr. Travis has built a reputation for fostering partnerships between campus stakeholders to enhance the student experience and support institutional goals.
In this episode, we’ll discuss the critical role partnerships—like those with COCM—play in creating a vibrant, student-centered campus and explore how those collaborations can drive success for students and universities alike.
Dr. Travis, thank you for joining us today.
Dr. Travis:
Well, Kyle—or Mr. Jones, Kyle—it is exciting to be here with you on this podcast. I’m looking forward to our conversation about the partnerships we’ve had on this campus and others.
Kyle:
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Jumping into this, I was wondering—could you share an example of how COCM has positively impacted the student experience? You’ve worked with us across multiple campuses over a number of years, correct?
Dr. Travis:
Yes. I’ve been here at Frostburg State for five years. Before that, I served as Chief Student Affairs Officer at Bowie State for 13 years, and I’ve been a Vice President for about 25 years in total.
Kyle:
What have you seen over those years in the student housing space, particularly with COCM?
Dr. Travis:
Well, Kyle, as you mentioned in the introduction, I’ve been doing this for about 40 to 45 years. Sometimes, I consider myself a dinosaur.
When P3s first emerged, the idea was “quick build, good build,” but one of my initial concerns was: would these projects truly be integrated into the campus community?
What I found in my 18 years of working with COCM—excuse me, I’ve been a Capstone person for so long; I might slip up and call them that—but yes, COCM has had a tremendous impact. On this campus and others, and among colleagues who also partner with COCM, it’s created a seamless living-learning environment.
Back in the day, there was concern about outsourcing. When I arrived at Bowie State, we had just ended a contract with a company that had poorly managed a facility. Then we brought in COCM to manage it—and from day one, there was a seamless partnership.
Dr. Travis (continued):
You look at leadership development, community development—the fact is, COCM didn’t just come in as a business focused on the bottom line. Of course, there were bond debt ratios and financial realities to meet, but they truly worked hand-in-hand with our staff.
You asked about specific programs—I can’t point to just one. What stands out is the consistent leadership that’s worked in partnership with the institution. Our students didn’t see them as outsiders. They saw COCM staff as part of the university, and that’s how it should be.
Here at Frostburg and previously at Bowie, we’ve had seamless collaborations. At Bowie, COCM handled operations while we managed programming. Here at Frostburg, Edgewood does both—but our RAs train together, work together, and the staff from both sides continue to make sure our students have a strong residential experience.
Kyle:
That’s fantastic insight. To expand a bit more, what specific elements make a partnership like ours effective from a student affairs perspective?
Dr. Travis:
We were lucky at Bowie to bring in COCM through MEDCO. They struck a great balance between consistency and customization. And let me say this—more people should know about “Fresh Eyes.” That program has been a wonderful way to benchmark best practices and maintain high standards.
COCM takes the time to learn the campus culture. They understand the specific values and context. Because they work across the country, we benefit from their experience and standards.
You don’t see outdated furniture. You don’t see neglect. They cycle out old items, refresh paint, and maintain quality. One example: at Bowie, before COCM came in, I used to call the residence hall “The Carter” from New Jack City. Everything was going wrong.
We sat down with COCM and MEDCO to figure out how to get students to pay their bills and understand that their environment is what they make of it. We worked out a deal with the finance office—after paying their tuition, students’ remaining financial aid would go directly to cover their housing with COCM. That drastically reduced collections and increased accountability.
We’ve done something similar here at Frostburg with Edgewood. It wasn’t just about getting paid—it was about how we could work together in partnership to make it better for everyone.
Kyle:
That’s a great story. I love the New Jack City reference!
So it sounds like trust and collaboration are key. For our wider audience, what would you say are the key factors in building and maintaining these types of long-term relationships?
Dr. Travis:
Transactional leadership is passé. What we’ve done at Bowie and here at Frostburg is transformational. The focus is on student-centered service delivery.
I’ve never had a COCM manager come in and say, “This is just business.” It’s always, “This is a partnership.” The question is always, “How can we make this good for both COCM and the institution?”
They’ve supported not just student housing but academic and social development. Our RAs are trained together. We focus on retention, well-being, and holistic student development.
I even asked the COCM manager at Bowie to chair the search committee for our Director of Residence Life. She wasn’t our employee—but she was our partner. That’s trust.
Dr. Travis (continued):
Some people questioned that decision—having someone from an outside partner chair a key search. But she knew res life, and she picked an excellent candidate. That speaks volumes about the relationship we had built.
It wasn’t just about maintaining buildings—it was about maintaining a community. One that we built together.
Kyle:
As we wrap up, one final question: What advice would you give to institutions—or partners like us—who are looking to foster deeper, more impactful relationships on campus?
Dr. Travis:
I’ve had the opportunity to work on three campuses. On one, the LLC that managed our P3 basically let us run everything. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really a partnership.
At Bowie State, I worked with two companies—I won’t name the other, but if someone wants to call me and talk, I’m happy to share. What I will say is that COCM is authentic. Yes, they have to run it as a business—but that’s not what comes out first. They lead with care.
Partnerships are crucial in shaping the campus experience. For example, at Bowie we worked with COCM to set up a meal plan—not required, but available. Why? Because our students were struggling with wellness. It was a challenge, but we figured it out together, keeping both the student need and the financial responsibility in mind.
After 18 years, I can say that COCM is part of the campus environment. At both Frostburg and Bowie, COCM staff were part of my student affairs team. They didn’t report to me—but they came to meetings, they were part of celebrations, they were integrated. That’s the kind of partnership that supports student success.
And yes—“Fresh Eyes” has been invaluable. Sometimes the recommendations are hard to hear, but they’re necessary. The evaluations and follow-up meetings help us grow.
At the end of the day, if someone asks what my legacy is, I’d say: I care. And my relationship with COCM? They care, too.
Kyle:
Thank you so much for that insight, Dr. Travis. That’s a powerful note to end on.
We often say internally—it’s not just about being “lovey-dovey,” but about truly caring. As you said, it’s not just business. It’s caring for the communities we’re a part of.
I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface, so I’d love to invite you back again sometime soon.
Dr. Travis:
I’d love to. Trust and open communication are what make this partnership successful. At the end of the day, it’s about helping our students grow and thrive.
Kyle:
That’s wonderful. I’m going to quote you on that one—might even put it on a billboard!
Thanks to everyone for listening to today’s episode of Join the Conversation. I’m Kyle Jones, and my guest has been Dr. Artie L. Travis.
To learn more about the student housing professionals at COCM and third-party management of on-campus housing, visit our website at cocm.com. You can find more about today’s episode at studenthousingmatters.com. While you’re there, check out our blog posts and videos—or submit an idea you’d like us to explore.
