The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 1 - 69

Public-Private Partnerships for On-Campus Housing

Another critical skill set is an understanding of risk management, liability, and relevant codes and legislation related to student housing. When differences of opinion arise, particularly related to safety and security matters, even if the ultimate decision lies with a private partner, the burden can shift when concerns are formally documented. Sometimes, the willingness to issue formal notice is sufficient to sway opinion. Having a clearly shared vision from the beginning helps but will not prevent all conflicts. Choose your battles carefully, and be willing to creatively and courageously challenge assumptions that are counterintuitive to the larger student development mission of higher education. 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. In many cases, institutions are engaging privatized approaches in reaction to an already established need and a desire for a quick fix. Even if a project begins in a reactive posture, shifting from a reactive to proactive stance is critical to long-term success. Despite the need for auxiliary enterprises to be financially self-sufficient, student housing should not be viewed in a vacuum. Whether a campus has been historically residential or is becoming residential for the first time, the impact of growth and change will reverberate throughout the institution, often resulting in

unintended consequences. Developing or expanding residence life services will likely be insufficient to manage the synergistic impact. Related services, such as public safety, student conduct, counseling, recreation, health services, food services, etc., need to be evaluated and engaged in the process. Having worked in multiple newly established housing programs in urban and/or densely populated areas and having consulted with many more, I have witnessed few institutions that were adequately prepared. Student housing changes everything—overall for the better I believe. Public-private partnerships are a critical component, and while they are not the panacea many envisioned in their inception, they can positively transform an institution in ways not previously possible for most institutions.

RefeRences
Anderson Strickler, LLC. (2000). Public/private partnerships for student housing. Association of College and University Housing OfficersInternational. (2007, January). 21st Century Project Design Showcase. Phoenix, AZ. Association of College and University Housing OfficersInternational. (2009, January 11-15). Global Housing Summit. Hong Kong, China. Auer, T. (2009, September 11). Student housing thrives in public/private partnerships. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from http://www.cpexecutive.com/cpn/ business-specialties/Student-Housing-Thrives-inPublic-Private-Partnerships-1459.shtml Banning, J. (2001). Designing campus housing facilities with past, present, and future students. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from http://www.reslife.net/ html/facilities_0101a.html

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http://www.cpexecutive.com/cpn/business-specialties/Student-Housing-Thrives-in-Public-Private-Partnerships-1459.shtml http://www.cpexecutive.com/cpn/business-specialties/Student-Housing-Thrives-in-Public-Private-Partnerships-1459.shtml http://www.cpexecutive.com/cpn/business-specialties/Student-Housing-Thrives-in-Public-Private-Partnerships-1459.shtml http://www.reslife.net/html/facilities_0101a.html http://www.reslife.net/html/facilities_0101a.html

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