SUBJECT: Phase II Student Housing
BACKGROUND:
In February 2000, Campus Housing Solutions, Inc. was hired to assess the demand for student apartment housing at Washburn University. To arrive at the recommendations in their study, several analyses were completed as follows:
The final report was issued by Campus Housing solutions in April 2000 which concluded a successful Living Learning Center will create demand for more university student housing either on or within walking distance of campus.
A Phase II On-Campus Housing Planning Committee was established in June 2000 to study and anticipate on-campus housing needs for upper class and graduate single students. This committee was charged with the task of determining where additional housing could be located, the type of additional housing and how many units would be needed.
After several meetings, the committee determined additional resources were needed to complete the charge issued by the President. As a result, Treanor Architects were hired to provide the following services:
DESCRIPTION:
Representatives of the Phase II Housing Planning Committee and Treanor Architects met with the Regents Housing Committee on January 5, 2001 and presented the findings of the committee to date along with concepts for additional housing. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Administration requested we seek Board of Regents approval at the January 2001 meeting to:
Subsequent to the January 5 meeting, the Administration decided after numerous discussions to modify its recommendation to seek authorization to negotiate a contract with Treanor Architects for architectural services related to the Phase II Housing project. We feel this will save approximately three months and help ensure the project can be completed by June 2002 for a Fall 2002 opening.
The projected total project budget is $6,730,020 as follows:
Total Construction Cost (62,590 sq.ft.) $5,098,500
Site Work 509,850
Soft Costs 1,121,670
Total Project Cost $6,730,020
The funding source will be a bond issue. Attachment A illustrates a first year pro-forma for the project based on a $6.75 million bond issue.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
See above.
RECOMMENDATION:
President Farley recommends the Board of Regents approve the program statement (Attachment B), authorize the Administration to negotiate a contract with Treanor Architects, and approve the project financing plan.
Date Signature __________________________
Jerry Farley, President
Attachment B
WASHBURN UNIVERSITY
PHASE II STUDENT HOUSING
PROGRAM STATEMENT
Project: Phase II Student Housing
Mission Statement: To design and create additional student housing
supporting Washburn University's goal of creating a more
traditional residential environment for Washburn students.
Description: Additional residential facilities will be designed to serve as
transitional housing for students beyond the freshman year.
The housing will be transitional in the sense that they bridge the gap between residence hall living and the complete independence of apartment living.
The facilities will add a maximum of 200 additional beds on campus. Suites will be configured as 2- and 4-bedroom
units with 1-2 bathrooms, a shared living area and a small
galley kitchen/kitchenette. Suites will be wired for data
ports and local phone services and will provide basic cable
television. The facilities will also include a common
multipurpose area and conference room, laundry facilities,
public restrooms, a hall director's apartment, and an
office/reception area. The residential housing facilities
will be configured in a way to manage access into the units
after hours.
Guiding principles that will be considered during the
design, development, and construction phase are:
A student life component will be included in the project;
Appropriate security will be incorporated into the design;
Each suite will have food preparation capabilities in modest kitchenettes;
Room rates will be competitive with the campus-area market;
The residential facilities will be built to a 20-year construction standard similar to residential apartment complexes now being constructed;
The residential facilities will be aesthetically compatible with the campus architecture;
The preferred site location for the residential facilities is the Southwest corner of the campus;
The new housing facilities will open Fall 2002.
Introduction: Residential living plays a vital role in the college
experience by providing students a "fail safe" environment
in which to interact with peers from around Kansas, the
United States, and the world. Individuals residing in on-
campus residential facilities have the convenience of being
close to services, classes, and campus activities; the
opportunity to development lasting friendships; an
immediate exposure to a community living experience; the
opportunity for involvement in special events and
positions of leadership; and an exposure to educational
experiences that complement and enhance student learning.
Research studies have shown students who are
"connected" to their colleges/universities through academic
or social integration are more likely to complete their
academic careers in a timely and successful manner.
Similar studies have indicated students have a tendency
to learn more through out-of-the-classroom experiences.
Efforts to provide purposeful educational opportunities that
enhance students' growth and development can be greatly
strengthened by the on-campus living experience.
The Living Learning Center will provide students with an
opportunity to reside in close proximity to classrooms, dining, and student services. Special programs (e.g., faculty in residence, Freshman Interest Groups, mentors) will add value to the learning experience. The LLC will provide an ideal environment to ease the transition from high school to college.
The next phase in the residential life experience is to
provide "transitional" accommodations for students beyond
the freshman year. The new 200-bed addition will provide
modern, on-campus housing opportunities and will enhance
the dynamic environment being created by the addition of
the Living Learning Center, the renovation of Memorial
Student Union, and other campus enhancement projects.
Results of a housing study issued in April 2000 concluded
the viability of additional on-campus housing is
exclusively connected to the success of the Living Learning Center attracting first-time, full-time students from outside
the Topeka area to reside on campus their freshman year.
Additional residential facilities will provide students with
an attractive on-campus housing option beyond the
freshman year.
Statement of Need:
1. Student Recruitment and Retention
Need: To provide transitional housing for students beyond the freshman year.
Solution: The creation of the Living Learning Center will attract many new students to Washburn University. There is need to ensure housing will be available for these students beyond their first year. While these students might choose to reside in the Living Learning Center for additional years, they will displace other new students from living in that facility. By creating additional housing, students will have an attractive option for remaining on campus.
2. Enhancement of Student Life
Need: To increase student involvement on campus.
Solution: As the number of students residing on campus increases, there will be a greater demand for opportunities for campus involvement. This demand should lead to growth in attendance at University events (e.g., concerts, plays, lectures, athletic contests), increased membership in student organizations, and an increased interest in student activities. As these programs grow, more students will want to stay on campus.
3. Residential Living and Student Development
Need: To provide a variety of living options for students as they prepare for self-sufficient apartment living.
Solution: By providing "transitional" housing, students will have the opportunity to move from a traditional residence hall environment to one that allows for more autonomy within an environment that continues to provide mentoring and standards for this residential community. In addition, hall staff will be available to assist with programming and learning initiatives but to a different degree than the programs being provided in the LLC. Residents will have the option to prepare some meals in their suites while choosing to purchase additional meals through their board plans. Utilities and other services (local phone, cable TV) would be provided in the room rates. These facilities will provide convenient and increasingly autonomous living arrangements for students as they experience their own personal growth and development and will better prepare them for future, totally autonomous living experiences.
Project Date: Completion of project by June 2002 for an official Fall
Semester 2002 opening.
Budget Projection: $6,730,020
Financial Plan:
Cost Projections:
Total Construction Cost (62,590 sf) $5,098,500
Site Work 509,850
Soft Costs 1,121,670
Total Project Cost $6,730,020
Funding Source: Bond issue
Conclusion: The proposed Phase II housing will provide students with
an attractive, on-campus residential option beyond the
freshman year. It will allow students to experience more autonomy while still providing some structure in their lives.
As residential life increases so, too, will the vitality of the
campus.