With off-campus student housing options on the rise, students have lots of choices as to where they’ll live from one year to the next. After the first-year requirement of living on campus, students are often wooed off campus by the “shiny new object,” whether it be the allure of a newly finished building tricked out with all the latest amenities, or the irresistible rewards offered for locking in to a year-long lease. And those leases are already being signed for the 2017-18 academic year.
First-year students at CSU (and all Colorado public four-year colleges and universities) are required to live on campus. After the first year, some students move off campus thinking they’ll save money and perhaps have a better living experience. What many students don’t realize is that there are many hidden expenses associated with living off campus, in addition to a lot of unknowns including landlords, leases, managing utilities, roommate conflicts, and the challenges of cooking and taking care of a yard or a pet.
Returning to live on campus, both in the residence halls and in on-campus apartments, provides an alternative without those challenges. CSU Housing & Dining Services has recently kicked off the 2017-18 Live On campaign to encourage students to return to live on campus next fall. In order to get the best choice of rooms, students should apply by Jan. 31, although they may apply until Feb. 28 to be entered into the drawing for prizes, including a grand prize of free room and board for next academic year, and five $500 prizes.
Faculty and staff also receive a perk when students Live On, since their recommendations have a significant influence on students’ choice to stay on campus. In order to encourage this, any staff member listed on a student’s Live On application as influencing their decision to return to the residence halls for another year will receive a meal in the dining centers as a thank you.
Benefits of on-campus living
Living on campus offers so many benefits that are often overlooked. Typically the primary motivation to live on campus is convenience and proximity, but less tangible benefits also help to provide a better overall university experience.
National studies repeatedly indicate that students who live on campus are more satisfied with their college experience, earn higher grade point averages, and are more likely to graduate. Students have the opportunity to live with people of common interests and majors, and the campus setting also provides students with a level of support that can’t be matched – emotionally, socially and academically, off campus.
Residence Halls at a glance
- 15 residence halls house 6,200 beds
- 6 residential dining centers
- Home to more than 20 Residential Learning Communities
- Dedicated spaces for returning and transfer students
- Live-in staff in each hall
- Full kitchen, recreation, and study spaces in each hall
- Free WiFi throughout every building
Aggie Village Apartments at a glance
- 3 buildings house 461 units and 973 beds
- 75% of residents are currently undergraduate students
- 15% are currently graduate post docs and visiting scholars
- 74% are currently domestic students; 16% international students
- Home to the International Connections Community
- Live-in staff in each hall
- Full kitchen, recreation and study spaces available in the complex
- Classroom space in the complex
- Free Wifi throughout every building
“Today’s residence halls are not the dorms of the ’60s and ’70s — there is a strong focus on learning, inclusion and creating a community that supports student development,” says Laura Giles, CSU Director of Residence Life. “Because of the Housing & Dining Services staff, students are supported in their development and have resources at their fingertips. The convenience of living on campus allows students the time to focus on their academics, involvement and participation in campus activities and events.”
Returning space in the residence halls
Students who choose to return to the residence halls have their first choice of their current room or another available space on campus including single rooms, the Year2@CSU community in Alpine Hall, and the loft-style rooms on the fourth floor of Parmelee. Returning students can also apply for a number of different student leadership positions and employment opportunities within the halls.
The Aggie Village Apartments, which opened in August, are located on the South side of campus on Lake Street and provide individual, academic year leases. Three buildings house 461 units that are competitively positioned with high-end, contemporary finishes, state-of-the-art technology, shared open spaces, and loads of amenities.
Aggie Village houses a mix of upperclass undergraduate and graduate students, visiting scholars, and post docs. About 75 percent of the beds are currently devoted to upperclass undergraduate students, some of whom are Intercultural Connections Community (ICC) students. Students interested in studying abroad or pursuing careers in international fields are the target audience for the ICC.
According to Hosam Ahmad, CSU Assistant Director of Apartment Life, the living experience at Aggie Village is quite different than you’d find off-campus. “It’s a convenient location with lots of amenities, independent and interdependent living, academically focused, and an intercultural exchange experience.” He adds that he hopes to see the occupancy numbers grow with temporary CSU appointees including visiting faculty and researchers.
“Students have their whole lives to live-off campus,” adds Giles. “Being a college student is a special time in their lives, and living on campus provides a space to be a student without taking on the ‘tasks’ of being a true adult.”
