The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 1 - 68

Michael L. Sanseviro

with colleagues is that the key to success is having all the critical stakeholders at the table early and continuously throughout the process. Niles (2003) highlights many of the advantages identified here and by others, offering useful insight on the financial structure of public-private partnerships—including preserved college or university debt/credit capacity

pioneers of public-private partnerships have provided useful resources for those just now beginning their journey.

RecOMMenDATIOns AnD cOncLUsIOns
Each phase of housing at Kennesaw State University provided critical lessons for both the university and foundation that allowed for shifting approaches and for facility and programmatic enhancements in the subsequent phase. The establishment of a university department dedicated to residence life was a critical lesson learned, and ideally this should have been done during the initial planning and development of the first phase. Many thirdparty agencies offer a comprehensive “student housing in a box” approach that theoretically maximizes profit with little or no investment. Like anything in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Having housing and residence life professionals at the table from start to finish is critical. It is equally important that those professionals understand the landscape of public-private partnerships. The world of student housing has changed significantly, and too often the interests of the private partners, foundation, or business and finance professionals overshadow the role of student services professionals. Just as the artificial divide between academic and non-academic units can create dysfunctional silos, the same can be true in public-private partnerships. The burden too often falls on the student affairs side of the house to demonstrate relevance, and that may be necessary, at least initially, in public-private partnerships to establish professional credibility and an understanding of the corporate aspects of these projects.

While developing relationships and trust are important in all successful projects, making sure that all parties are equally invested in a successful outcome is particularly important when engaging in public-private partnerships. The more a model shifts toward privatization, the more the interests of the institution can become obscured, particularly if private management approaches are employed.

and use of tax exempt financing—and other tips to protect the institution’s interests. Hickey and Hendessi (2004) offer a detailed deal structure, financing structure, and privatization flowchart that serve as a comprehensive guideline for state institutions within the University System of Georgia, while stressing that no single approach can meet every need. Luckily, the early

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THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITy STUDENT HOUSING
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
