SFC Questions for Bill Schwartz, Associate VP, Student Affairs

SFC Questions on Housing Plans May 20, 2008

SFC Questions for Bill Schwartz, Associate VP, Student Affairs

May 20, 2008 Meeting of SFC

I. Planning related to student housing:

Q1: How will the student housing proposal be planned out — role of consultants, input from the University community, etc?

(See May 15, 2008 Student Housing Strategic Planning General Information document)

Q2: Will regional campus student housing be considered as part of the overall student housing plan?

Currently the plan is focusing on the Columbus Campus. Academic Affairs continues to review the relationship of strategic and enrollment plans on the regional campuses with student housing plans.

Q3: Is there any linkage between housing plans and the real estate purchases east of High Street by Campus Partners?

Student Affairs is working together with Campus Partners. Possibilities include Student Affairs’ master lease of existing properties for use as student housing, and an affiliated or master lease relationship related to any new construction.

Q4: What is the priority of new housing vs. improvements to existing housing? Will Honors and Scholars Housing continue to be available on campus? Will graduate student housing continue to be available on campus?

Phase 1 of the plans described in the Student Housing Strategic Planning General Information document provide for a $200 million capital plan which would add 1,000 new housing beds and renovate 2,500 existing beds. The 1,000 new housing beds would be utilized to reduce on-campus resident population density, and therefore are not part of Phase 2 or Phase 3 plans to house more OSU students in appropriately managed environments.

Also part of Phase 1 is the procurement of leased or privately owned property to create up to 1,500 beds of swing space that would enable a rotation for shutting down facilities for renovation. The $200 million plan covers the renovation of Jones Tower and 5 south high rise residential facilities. However, renovations of the north residence halls and south low rise facilities would still need to occur.

University Housing currently offers about 40 different living-learning community environments in the residence halls, including Honors and Scholars Housing (see Learning Communities at Ohio State attachment). These environments would continue and be strengthened by the physical improvements to the facilities.

Currently, graduate and professional housing is offered at the Neil Building in the William H. Hall Complex and at Jones Tower. While Neil and Jones house several hundred graduate and professional students, they also house undergraduates as well. Jones Tower would be taken off line during 2009-10 for renovation. It is envisioned it would continue for mixed use when it is brought back on line in Autumn 2010.

There will continue to be a priority for some amount of graduate housing to provide transitional housing for new graduate students. However, we may consider a cap of two years on the length of time a graduate student may remain in University housing as overall demand increases. In addition, we would encourage the types of developments that have occurred in recent years at Gateway, which houses law students, and Fisher Commons, which houses MBA students.

Highest priorities for University Housing currently are (1) new first quarter freshmen (2) students who voluntarily wish to renew contracts for an additional year (3) regional campus change students (4) new graduate and professional students (5) transfers and others.

Q5: What is the timeline for housing plans - new housing developments as well as changes to current student housing?

The goal for Phase 1 improvements is completion by 2012.

Phases 2 and 3, which relate to the housing of sophomores and other longer-term goals, will likely be in planning over the next 9 months. One goal for the planning will be to establish timelines.

Q6: Will housing all be built by the University on University land or involve private developers such as at Fisher Commons? What involvement and coordination will the housing plans have with private developers and/or owners of private housing near campus?

The entire range of development options would be under consideration, including but not limited to: new construction, acquisition, leasing, and management relationships with owners of existing housing.

Campus Partners and Student Affairs have been meeting with property owners. The commissioning of the Vogt Williams Bowen Research market impact survey is a cooperative effort with these owners to obtain information on the potential impact of University housing plans.

Student Affairs operates the Off Campus Student Services and Community Development Office, which provides a website for property owners to advertise their properties, educates students about off campus living, and organizes a “Community Ambassadors” program which engages student residents in social and other activities supporting community development.

Student Affairs also operates the Student Housing Legal Clinic, which provides legal advice and assistance to students regarding landlord-tenant issues.

Q7: How does a major new housing construction effort for housing sophomores on campus mesh with the campus master plan?

Land currently is available to expand student housing in all three major residential areas. Sasaki Associates is completing a Lincoln Tower Urban Design study, which conceptualizes the addition of up to about 1,000 new beds contiguous to Morrill and Lincoln Towers. A previous conceptual sub-district plan envisioned renovation and construction in the North Residential area that also could add up to 1,000 new beds. The university already owns much of the land on the south side of 11th Avenue, which provides additional opportunities, some which already had been conceptualized in previous master plans.

However, it has not yet been determined that new construction will occur. This and all of the other development options will be under consideration as studies proceed.

Q8: What will be the impact of a major new housing construction effort on campus infrastructure? Is there likelihood of strain on the current infrastructure? Timing of new infrastructure needs in relation to housing construction?

Student Affairs and FOD have established a dedicated project delivery team that is incorporating infrastructure planning into each project. For example, the South high rise renovations project is paying for the upgrade in electrical capacity needed to support air conditioning. The project also is paying for building chillers because the university chilled water infrastructure does not extend to these buildings.

Currently, all of the North residential facilities have their own boilers and chillers and do not depend on the University infrastructure except for water and sewer. Lincoln and Morrill have their own chillers but rely on university steam for heat. These types of alternatives would exist for new housing construction and would be considered as part of the planning process.

Q9: What is the relationship of planned new housing to Columbus’ street car project?

Sasaki Associates have included movement systems as a topic for their study of the campus core and areas surrounding the core. The Sasaki study will inform housing planning.

II. Financing of student housing:

Q1: What impact will the student housing plans have on the University's capital funding and bonding allocation plans?

Attachment A of the Student Housing Strategic Planning General Information document shows the dollar impact of Phase 1, approximately $200 million through 2012. Business and Finance is reviewing this impact, but our understanding is that this fits within the limits that have been established to protect bond ratings.

We have no expectation of any additional bonding capacity until after 2012. This doesn’t preclude the possibility that university priorities would change if additional investment is desired prior to 2012.

Q2: Is there any current projection as to what students (and their parents) can expect in terms of the increase in housing cost?

If there are no other sources of funding (such as development, President’s strategic reserve, etc.), and the entire funding burden falls on student fees, then fees would need to be increased each year over the next several years by 2-3% above the amount needed to cover normal operating inflation. Current fees for a standard double occupancy room and base meal plan are fifth highest in the Big Ten and ninth among public Ohio universities. Many other schools are similarly situated with regard to needed investments in housing facilities.

III. Details of proposed new student housing:

Q1: What configurations for the housing units themselves are being considered--will the new buildings be multiple stories, will the units be traditional 2-4 person dorm rooms or apartment-style suites?

This will be determined as part of the consultant studies. The most desirable configurations would be 4-6 stories, mix of scholar house and apartment-style. Scholar houses have private or two-person bedrooms, private hallway bathrooms, common kitchen and living area. Apartment-style would have bathrooms, kitchens, and living area within each apartment unit. Community and academic space would be important considerations.

Q2: What services and facilities will be provided in the housing--cafeterias, fitness rooms, computer labs, cooking facilities, commons, student parking, etc.?

This is yet to be determined. With respect to parking, note that freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus which has alleviated some parking concerns. Only 20% of off campus sophomores and 9% of sophomore residence hall students bought parking permits this year.

IV. Impact of new student housing:

Q1: What is the data available on impact on student academic performance of on-campus housing of sophomores? What data collection plans are in place to track impact (academically, student involvement) of having sophomores housed on campus?

Data was presented in the January 31, 2008 presentation to the Board of Trustees by Provost Alutto and Vice President Hollingsworth. This was summarized in the minutes and can be accessed at:

http://trustees.osu.edu/Minutes/documents/020108.pdf

(Beginning on page 778 with the report of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee; also, the power point presentation to the committee is available on request).

Currently, University Housing conducts annual satisfaction surveys; participates in selected national studies; and reviews grade point averages by facility. The Office of the University Registrar compiles data comparing grade point averages and time to graduation for residence hall students vs. off campus. There is a body of research in higher education curriculums that generally support the advantages of intentionally planned and structured learning communities in promoting educational outcomes.

Q2: How affordable will the new housing be for students?

FY09 average rates for on-campus housing are about $570/month. This includes all utilities, wired and wireless high speed internet in all spaces, cable TV, phone, 24 hour service desk, educational and residential programming and support, on-campus location, furnished room, computer labs, study and community space. Rents would rise by 2-3% above normal operating inflation each year over the next several years if no other fund sources are determined.

Q3: Will construction plans require a surcharge for all students similar to those for RPAC or the Ohio Union?

Since housing is self-supporting, the additional amount in fees is simply built into the existing structure (as opposed to the baseline of general funds plus a specific facility fee for RPAC and the Ohio Union).

V. Other:

Q1: What is the status of the Ohio Union project?

On time and on budget, due to open by Winter 2010.

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