Depending on where you look for statistics, the number of students enrolling in colleges or universities is increasing, decreasing or remaining the about the same. Regardless of those trends, campus housing is a marketing tool for institutions looking to draw students to and keep them on campus. Schools need to offer sufficient beds and…

Residence halls--or dormitories, as they were once called--used to be places where students could sleep, dress, and study while attending college. They were the simplest of spaces, providing each student a bed, a desk, and a place to keep some clothes. And they were usually the least expensive buildings on campus. Things are different now.…

Describes the seating chosen for residence halls at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of New England. The seating required depends on ergonomics, aesthetics, durability, cost, and code requirements. In addition, residence halls must have a range of seating types to accommodate various uses. (SLD)

Discusses whether or not a college or university should own its own laundry equipment or contract out laundry services, including machine maintenance, and outlines the advantages of different types of washing machines for the student housing setting. Also reviews issues related to payment methods. (SLD)

Asserting that residence hall furniture takes abuse simply through use, discusses a three-part approach--student involvement and education, creating the right environment, and ongoing maintenance--that helps reduce normal wear and tear. (EV)

Shares tips for making the right purchases of furniture for college residence halls, including issues of durability, aesthetics, flexibility and floor space, and delivery. (EV)

Explores the issue of university-owned and managed student housing and how to decide whether to shift to privatization. How privatization works, identification of current and future student housing needs, the cost of privatization, and issues to consider when privatization is pursued are examined. (GR)

Describes the Western Ridge Residence at Colorado College and Beard Hall at Wheaton College. The buildings feature multiple levels that take advantage of views and also help create a "homey" feeling. (EV)

Describes how Portland State University brought broadband into its older residence halls using Long-Reach Ethernet, a technology that delivers high bandwidth across the unconditioned telephone-grade wire that already existed in the buildings. (EV)

Discusses the trends in preparing college residence halls for new students that address their needs as consumers and offer freedom to control their surroundings. Making living quarters computer friendly, flexible, and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities act are explored. (GR)

Offers tips for higher education institutions on navigating the relationship with a privatized student housing developer: don't assume the project costs nothing, do understand the difference between your goals and the developer's, do create a feasibility study, don't treat every relationship the same, do put the student first, and don't forget the…

Discusses why, with budget crunches and enrollment increases, privatization is a viable option for higher education administrators needing affordable student housing. (EV)

Describes what leading manufacturers are saying about the future of residence hall furniture design, explaining that fabrics, frames, colors, materials, and other factors are combining to give college officials numerous choices. (EV)

Describes a new student housing approach at The College of St. Mary (Nebraska) which accommodates single mother students and their children. How the school created a community for these students is explained. (GR)

Highlights three college housing facilities that are designed to attract graduate and older students. Photos are included. (GR)