The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 1 - 63

Public-Private Partnerships for On-Campus Housing

In 2000, Kennesaw State University enrolled just over 13,000 students on a landlocked campus of 240 acres with limited academic and recreational facilities and no campus housing. In under a decade, the university enrollment expanded by over 70% to a current enrollment of approximately 22,500, with students representing 142 countries. Kennesaw State University is currently the third largest institution within the 35-institution University System of Georgia. During that same time, the campus experienced a 180% growth in facilities from 1 million square feet to 2.8 million square feet— including new residential, dining, classroom, and office spaces and parking and support facilities—at a cost in excess of $300 million. The transition to a residential campus began in August of 2002 with the acquisition of an existing apartment complex contiguous to the north end of the campus, providing housing for 358 students, and the construction of a new apartment-style complex on the south end of the campus, housing 700 students. Between 2002 and 2008, the on-campus residential population would incrementally expand, reaching 3,044 beds. Each subsequent phase brought with it lessons learned and adjusted approaches, enhancing the involvement of key stakeholders as the university engaged its emerging identity as a full-service, 24/7/365 residential campus. The residential program developed through three main phases. The first phase created 1,058 beds on campus, opened in Fall of 2002, and consisted of two components. The Kennesaw State University Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation independent from but supporting the university (hereafter referred to as the KSU Foundation), purchased two apart-

ment complexes adjacent to the campus on the north side and initially renovated one of the two complexes for exclusive student housing use. The second complex would be renovated in the second phase. The second component of the first phase consisted of a newly constructed 11-building garden-style apartment complex, offering 700 beds in two- and four-bedroom units, all with private bedrooms, private bathrooms, full kitchens, and a washer/dryer in each unit. Since the university had no history or expertise with student housing, the KSU Foundation hired a private developer to design, build, and manage the new complex and renovated units. Since the university had limited personnel resources, no additional staff members were hired during the first phase of campus housing. The campus land was leased to the KSU Foundation, which would remain the sole owner and operator, delegating management authority to the private corporation.

In 2000, Kennesaw State University enrolled just over 13,000 students on a landlocked campus of 240 acres with limited academic and recreational facilities and no campus housing. In under a decade, the university enrollment expanded by over 70% to a current enrollment of approximately 22,500, with students representing 142 countries.

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 1
