Pros and Cons of Student Housing This list of pros and cons was compiled on Friday, March 14, 2003, during a discussion involving members of the Illinois Community College Board's Student Advisory Committee and representatives of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. PROS      Could make the college money      Could increase value of property      Could generate income from international students      Could provide better access      Would cut down on transportation time to class      Would benefit students who lack transportation      Would aid in recruitment of students      Would aid in recruitment of athletes      Would save time for students      Would give students easier access to college computers and library      Would save students time for studying and tutoring      Would provide opportunities for socialization      Would allow course-specific study groups to form      Would provide another “connection” to the college      Would give students a chance to become independent.      Would generate a sense of community      Would be a boost to student government      Would give students a chance to know international students      Would allow students to be responsible for their own living areas      Would create “college life”      Would save students money CONS      Might generate crime      Would create campus police costs for the college (due to increased crime)      Could depress local property values      Would be an expensive liability for the college      Would increase vandalism on campus      Would create jurisdictional disputes between campus and city police      Would create a “partying” atmosphere to the college’s detriment      Would have adverse effect on education as students study less and party more      Would reduce the college’s focus on teaching and learning      Would tarnish the college’s image      Would create new costs for the college      Would appeal only to transfer students thereby creating splits among students      Could lose money for the college      Would divert money that could be used to build classrooms      Would require costly expansion of food services      would require costly parking      Should be a low priority for the board At the close of the discussion, a student noted that while the group had produced more “pros” than “cons,” the “cons” might have more weight. For information on the next ICCTA seminar, contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282. Illinois Community College Trustees Association 401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200 Springfield, IL 62701-1711 217-528-2858 (phone) 217-528-8662 (fax) ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail) http://www.communitycolleges.org | Home | News | Events | Links |