The Student Housing Matters blog explores ideas with leaders in higher education and the student housing profession. This is the place to find stories from those who have worked in the field for many years, podcast interviews, and videos about relevant topics in the student housing world.

It’s about matters relating to on-campus student housing, as well as why quality on-campus student housing really matters. We want this blog to serve as a forum for sharing ideas and insights about how your on-campus student housing can do things beyond simply housing students. How it can be used as a more powerful tool to recruit and retain students on your campus. We look forward to you joining us in the conversation.

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Posts by: Alton Irwin

New Grad? A few skills that could boost your job search.

August 2, 2016

If you’ve recently graduated from college or grad school, you may be like tens of thousands of peers in the same shoes as you – searching for a job. The tangibles that you’ve earned as evidenced by your diploma and that can be touted on your resume are certainly critical as you embark on this…

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Podcast

Podcast | Why Good Communication is Important

July 15, 2016

Author and fellow podcaster, Lisa B. Marshall joined us to talk about the art of good communication.  Lisa has a long history of helping organizations and elite performers develop strong communication and leadership. Her company develops solutions to facilitate organizational effectiveness and leadership development through consulting, training, keynotes, and one-on-one coaching.  She is the author of the bestselling…

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Watch Out! Here Comes Gen Z.

July 10, 2016

  I am always interested in reading about and observing the characteristics of each generation. When they were born, work ethic trends, their tech (or non-tech) habits, etc. Forbes recently ran an article entitled “Are You Prepared for the Coming Storm of Generation Z.” I think it’s hopeful, enlightening, and contains must-know information if you are…

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Podcast

Podcast | The Importance Of Fire Safety In A Residence Hall

June 30, 2016

Fire safety advocate, Shawn Simons joins us to to tell his story about the fire in Boland Hall on the campus of Seton Hall University in 2000. Shawn and his roommate from Seton Hall, Alvaro Llanos use their incredibly moving story to speak to higher education leaders and students around the country on the importance…

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How to Fix the Student Debt Crisis?

June 17, 2016

Acclaimed author Jeff Selingo lays out three changes in this brief LinkedIn article our next president could make that would lessen the burden of this ever increasing problem for today’s students, parents, and higher ed. Take a moment to consider future Mr. or Mrs. President!  

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“How to Create – and Maintain – Healthy Student Life”

June 15, 2016

As we close out one school year and are deep in preparations for a new one to start in just a couple of months, take the time to read this great, thought-provoking article from The Presidency. It is relevant whatever your role may be in higher ed.  NASPA President, Kevin Kruger, offers common sense, comprehensive…

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Podcast

Podcast | There IS Life After College

June 8, 2016

Best selling author and award winning columnist, Jeff Selingo joined us to talk about his most recent book, There Is Life After College.  We talked about the way this generation is learning and how it affects the transition to life after college, how residential education is more important than ever, and his favorite phone apps.…

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Is Your Institution Winning… at Social Media?

June 6, 2016

Education Dive recently highlighted institutions who are best leveraging social media in engaging their prospective, current, and former students. “Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have become powerful marketing and engagement tools for institutions looking to reach current and prospective students, as well as alumni. Knowing how to best take advantage of the media, however,…

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Podcast

Podcast | How I Got Into Student Housing – Melynda Davis

May 11, 2016

Melynda Davis is COCM’s director at Campus Town at The College of New Jersey.  She joined us for the latest installment of our “How I Got Into Student Housing” series. If you haven’t been following this series, the episodes are designed to be a fairly quick look into how these housing professionals got into this…

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Congratulations to Cornish Commons and CDP!

May 4, 2016

Capstone Development Partners recently received multiple awards for Cornish Commons at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Cornish Commons was honored with three Student Housing Business Innovator Awards in April. Earlier this year,  the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce bestowed Cornish Commons with the “2015 Building of the Year” award. Cornish Commons is a 432 bed…

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