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

Colleges Get Creative with Fundraising

May 2, 2016

This is a fascinating article about how colleges are now using crowdfunding to reach a younger pool of potential donors.  Note how the College of Holy Cross raised nearly $2 million in less than 48 hours.

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Don’t Make These New Grad Mistakes…

April 22, 2016

Thousands of students will be receiving their diploma in the next few weeks and embarking on their first job search. Director of COCM Human Resources, Keisha Cherry, has put together some great tips for new grads. Submit your resume and cover letter in PDF format.  Resume formats can move around when changing operating systems. Don’t expect…

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Tax Day is here…

April 18, 2016

If you’re like millions of Americans who are preparing their taxes today, (3 days later than the normal April 15 deadline – thanks to the Emancipation Day holiday that was celebrated on 4/15 this year) Forbes shared great tips for filing a “(mostly) flawless return.”  Check out their advice here.  Good luck! You have until midnight tonight.  …

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Blog

ACE Names Fellows Class of 2016-17

April 15, 2016

ACE, the American Council on Education, named 33 leaders in higher education who will participate in the 2016-17 ACE Fellows Program.  Created in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is the preeminent leadership development program in higher education. Per ACE, the Program “combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and…

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Podcast

Podcast | How I Got Into Student Housing – Debbie Daniels

April 14, 2016

Our latest post in the “How I Got Into Student Housing” series features Debbie Daniels, COCM’s Director of Edgewood Commons at Frostburg State University. 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 field.  In every episode you hear,…

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The Power of College Rankings

April 11, 2016

Inside Higher Ed recently reviewed a study regarding the reaction of institutions who lose rank in the college rankings report release annually by US News and World Report.  Contrary to what one may think they might do to counter the fall and add a point of attraction, they do just the opposite. Those institutions are found to raise…

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New Rule Extends Stay in US for Some Foreign Grads

March 31, 2016

Good news published recently in The New York Times regarding grads in specified fields that wish to remain in the US. International students earning degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields in the United States will now be eligible to stay for three years of on-the-job training. Read the full article here.    

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Student Affairs and Exercise

March 29, 2016

Amy Lorenz is a COCM’s Director at Bowling Green State University. You may have caught her on a recent podcast (How I Got Into Student Housing-Amy Lorenz) on the blog.  Amy wrote a really great blog post about student affairs and fitness on her personal blog, and she was kind enough to let us re-post…

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Podcast

Podcast | How I Got Into Student Housing – Jen Oliver

March 25, 2016

We’re back with another edition of “How I Got Into Student Housing.” In this episode we’re joined by COCM’s director of facilities and conference services art Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MASSART), Jen Oliver. Come hear how she went from being a pre-med student to where she is now. If you haven’t been following this…

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Blog

Small Changes…Big Payoffs

March 24, 2016

  Great article this week in the Washington Post.  The act of addressing the issues faced by these students and thousands of others like them across the country, could mean untold dividends for those seeking a college degree and beyond.      

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“Wanted…A Harvard for Skilled Jobs”

March 17, 2016

Great post by our friend and author, Jeff Selingo, regarding his soon to be released book, “There is Life After College.”  This post provides an introduction to the focus of his book: the need for more alternative schools and other options (versus traditional college route) for young, post-high school men and women to be equipped…

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