Consultants from both the Randolph Group and Sasaki Associates Inc. have completed two important studies for the university. Findings from the Student Demand Survey, administered by the Randolph Group, and the Cornell Housing Sasaki Report were recently shared with Campus Life staff and members of the Residential Steering Committee.
Designed to assess the demand for on-campus housing among undergraduate students, the Student Demand Survey was distributed to a diverse group of students currently living both on and off campus. The charge of the Cornell Housing Sasaki Report was to identify and evaluate potential sites for new undergraduate student housing on and adjacent to campus, with the goal of increasing available housing and enhancing the sense of community among resident students.
Information from these studies will help the Residential Steering Committee shape recommendations to implement university goals for undergraduate education and the residential experience at Cornell. The recommendations will include a master plan that identifies the location and construction of future student residences on campus, and incorporates specific housing features identified in the Student Demand Survey.
Survey data
The Student Demand Survey gathered significant data about first-year and upper-class student preferences regarding where, how, and with whom they would like to live. It was no surprise to learn that single rooms, privacy and the availability of quiet space, while important to freshmen, are even higher priorities for second- and third-year students. For freshmen, social atmosphere is more important.
Perhaps the most compelling findings center around the question of whether students would consider living on campus in future years. Of the 1,400 students who returned the survey, the majority indicated they would consider living on campus if certain criteria were met.
Most important are the type of bedroom, an improved social atmosphere, and the sense that students are getting a good value for their housing dollars. Of those respondents who were interested in sharing space with others, the preferred living arrangement is a suite, apartment, or townhouse with three to five other people. Low-rise buildings from two to five stories high, no more than a 20-minute walk from classes, housing 150 to 300 students are the residential communities of choice. Residential community programming is rated as only moderately important.
According to Michael Rowland of the Randolph Group, the desire for a diverse residential community appears to be common to all groups of students surveyed: They want to be able to live in various locations, among people of both genders and of various ethnic/cultural backgrounds, who are at different academic levels. However, the perception of what constitutes a diverse residential environment may vary from student to student.
Additional, more qualitative information will be generated from student focus groups this fall, after which a full report on the Student Demand Survey will be made available to the public.
The Sasaki Report
The Sasaki Report findings identify a number of potential housing sites, some of which have never before been considered. One of the most interesting new sites, referred to in the report as "east campus," is located along Tower Road, adjacent to Alumni Fields.
This area, which is currently used for parking, lends itself well to developing housing, but not academic buildings, because the site is only about 50 feet deep. An appropriate use of the site may be mid-rise buildings with front stoops that lead up into suites or apartments. Parking would be located under the residences and the central location offers many opportunities to join academic and residential activities. Nearby Trillium could provide easy access to dining facilities.
Areas for possible housing expansion on north campus include a site contiguous to Helen Newman, Donlon, and Dickson. Smaller sites are identified near the Wait Avenue Co-op, Chi Omega, Risley and Anna Comstock. The Sasaki Report identifies a number of sites on west campus, as well, most notably along West Avenue and at the intersection of Stewart and University avenues. Several small sites adjacent to some of the class halls also are outlined. Given the current population density in west campus, this area may not be the first choice for additional student housing.
The timing
According to Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, "Once we are into the fall semester, the Residential Steering Committee will be able to make recommendations for the short term, so we can meet our goal of being able to guarantee on-campus housing for freshmen, sophomores and transfers who want to live on campus. After that, we will look at our long-term plan. Fall 2001 is the earliest we would move into any new space."
Murphy added, "We need to determine market demand before we decide how many beds to add, and any building we do will happen in phases. We have to build facilities that will meet the students' needs."