Campuses Named for 21st Century Project Residence Hall Construction
Indiana University, Baylor University, and Colorado College selected
Columbus, Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27th, 2009
Columbus, Ohio, December 4, 2008: The Association of College & University Housing Officers – International is proud to announce three campuses selected by competitive process as host sites for potential new residence halls following the guidelines of the association’s 21st Century Project. Indiana University in Bloomington, Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and Colorado College in Colorado Springs are all scheduled to begin this process in early 2009.
The 21st Century Project is a multi-phased initiative leading to the eventual construction of a new, state-of-the-art college residential facility. The project began in 2006 with a summit meeting of 100 college housing and student affairs professionals who met to envision the residence hall of the future. In that summit, it was determined that innovative approaches to flexibility, community, technology, and sustainability would be necessary to meet the ever-changing roles residence halls play in the collegiate experience. Two subsequent design showcase events were held in 2007 and 2008, each offering $25,000 prizes to the winning designs.
“We are incredibly excited to see the 21st Century Project reach this stage of its growth,” said Sallie Traxler, ACUHO-I executive director. “It is rewarding to know what started with a conversation about ways to improve college and university housing could result in ground-breaking new student communities on these three campuses.”
“These institutions and their housing departments must be commended for their dedication to providing innovative and forward-thinking housing for their students,” said Michael Coakley, 21st Century Project chair and Arizona State University associate vice president / executive director of university housing. “To volunteer their campuses to embrace this process and move toward the construction of these halls is tangible evidence of their commitment.”
To plan a residence hall that best meets the unique needs of individual campuses, the three schools will convene their own meetings that model the original 21st Century Project summit. The facilitation process will bring together housing personnel, campus administrators, faculty, facilities staff, finance officers, and students to analyze needs and requirements as well as ways to build community, instill flexibility, utilize technology, and promote sustainability. The results of those meetings may be used to construct the request-for-proposals that may be made available to architecture and design firms who will then bid for the contract as normal.
To further promote the educational mission of ACUHO-I, the three campuses will report out on their progress throughout the project. Once complete, the projects will also be made available for studies and research from other professionals.
“The 21st Century Project has always been about how it simply isn’t enough to provide four walls and a bed for a student,” said Coakley. “When these communities are complete, they will demonstrate new ways that campus housing can contribute to the entire student development process and experience.”
More details about the project can be found online at www.21stCenturyProject.com and www.acuho-i.org. Additional questions can be directed to the ACUHO-I central office at 614.292.0099.
STATEMENTS FROM PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS
INDIANA UNIVERSITY – BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA: “At Indiana University, we promote our residence hall program as the place where academics and communities come together,” said Patrick H. Connor, executive director of IUB Residential Programs and Services. “As the Bloomington campus redefines its future through a campus master planning process, the 21st Century Project can deliver new residential experiences that enhance the unique campus character and quality of our institution. We are excited to have been selected as a host site for the Village phase and hope to utilize the ideas exchanged in the initial phases of the project to deliver a residential facility that looks to the future, providing a vibrant community where campus life and learning intersect.”
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY – WACO, TEXAS: “Baylor has been on a 10-year journey to reorganize our residential programs and facilities for optimal student learning, said Frank Shushok, dean for Student Learning and Engagement. “The residential campus has been a major tool for strengthening an institutional community of learners and has depended upon forward thinking, progressive ideas and unusual levels of collaboration among faculty, staff, students, architects, contractors and many other partners. ACUHO-I's 21st Century Project is the perfect opportunity to take us one step further in our thinking. The reward of our participation will no doubt be formative in ensuring our housing helps facilitate important institutional values and aspired educational outcomes for future generations of students."
COLORADO COLLEGE – COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO: “Colorado College is honored to be selected to host a 21st Century Project Summit. The college, having just completed a forward-looking and innovative arts building devoted to interdisciplinary learning and collaboration, is a natural to take the lead in 21st-century thinking and vision," said Mike Edmonds, vice president of student life and dean of students at Colorado College. "This project is a perfect fit for Colorado College as we envision the future of our on-campus residences, which are an essential aspect of our residential liberal arts institution.”
About ACUHO-I
ACUHO-I is the Association of College and University Housing Officers -International. ACUHO-I members believe in developing exceptional residential experiences at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions around the world.
ACUHO-I achieves its vision by providing innovative, value-driven programs, services, research, and development as well as networking opportunities that help support and evolve the collegiate housing industry. We do this with the constant purpose of making a positive difference in the lives of members and those they serve.
Our members include more than 6,400 housing professionals from more than 900 colleges and universities in 22 different countries, who serve approximately 1.8 million students worldwide. Our membership also includes more than 200 corporate members. To meet the needs of all students, we encourage participation at all levels of the association.
Additional information about ACUHO-I can be found at www.acuho-i.org 21st Century Project at www.21stcenturyproject.com