OSU-Tulsa looks at building campus housing

Thursday, February 22, 2007

 According to a report released Thursday, an independent consulting firm recommends that Oklahoma State University-Tulsa consider building campus housing within the next few years.
 
OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl said the possibility of student housing would help meet evolving student and community needs and propel the university into its next phase of growth and development.
 
Cynthia Balogh and Joseph Carter with MGT of America Inc. presented the study’s findings at a joint meeting between the OSU-Tulsa Board of Trustees and the University Center at Tulsa Trust Authority.
 
“The information from the student housing feasibility study will enable us to assess better and adequately plan for residential life at OSU-Tulsa,” Trennepohl said. “We need to plan for the needs of our students over the next 10 to 25 years, and providing housing options is a request that we often hear from the community.”   
 
MGT of America analyzed three housing options. They recommended constructing 200 condo-style units with a choice of one or two bedrooms. The location of the residential area is under evaluation. More than 200 acres are available for OSU-Tulsa expansion.
 
Board members and university officials said they would review the consultant’s report and conduct further analysis over the next few months to gather additional information before making any decisions.
 
In November 2006, the independent consulting firm was contracted to conduct a student housing economic feasibility study. MGT utilized surveys, interviews and focus groups to gauge the interests and preferences of OSU-Tulsa students, faculty and staff, and students at OSU’s Center for Health Sciences and Langston University-Tulsa.
 
The project’s objectives included assessing campus needs and student interests, analyzing the surrounding community housing market, developing demand estimates and facility options and preparing financial analyses.
 
“The report found that respondents, especially graduate students, OSU medical school students and undergraduate students who work in the downtown area, had an enthusiastic interest in OSU-Tulsa developing campus housing,” Trennepohl said. “If the decision is made to bring housing to OSU-Tulsa, building the apartments would take approximately one year once construction begins.”
 
The study found that 45% of student respondents live in rental properties and are extremely or somewhat interested in campus housing. In addition, OSU-Tulsa faculty respondents expressed that campus housing will facilitate recruiting graduate students for the Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center.
 
Trennepohl said student housing would help OSU-Tulsa transition from a commuter campus to a residential campus and support community economic development, such as revitalization efforts in the Brady District near OSU-Tulsa.
 
“On-campus housing has been a long-time goal for OSU-Tulsa,” Trennepohl said. “Creating a residential area for our students and faculty can promote a sense of community and strengthen our learning environment inside and outside of the classroom.”