Recent survey results reveal significant interest in on-campus student housing at Metropolitan State University of Denver, as the University contemplates developing student housing.
Will Simpkins, Ed.D., vice president for Student Affairs, and Larry Sampler, chief operating officer and vice president for Administration, presented the findings at Thursday’s meeting of the President’s Cabinet. The survey results, shared after participants reviewed potential costs of rental units on campus, show that among MSU Denver students, 71% of current renters and 73% of students living with parents expressed a preference for campus living.
“That’s 7,239 students that we believe, if we offer the right housing and the right configuration, could possibly choose to live on campus,” Simpkins said during his presentation. “Now, we’re not talking about building (housing with) 7,239 beds. We’re talking about something closer to 500. But it just gives you a sense of the depth of the existing student market at MSU Denver.”
In addition to interest among current students, 64% of prospective students indicated that on-campus housing would influence their decision to attend MSU Denver. The survey will help inform next steps of the University’s exploration of on-campus student housing.
“It is important that we keep students at the forefront during each and every phase of this process,” Dean of Students Taylor Tackett said after the meeting. “In talking with and surveying them, we can incorporate the unique needs and desires of our student population to explore the creation of housing that works for them in ways current offerings do not.”
More meeting highlights
Streamlined work-study processes
The Financial Aid Office is implementing changes to improve the efficiency of work-study onboarding. Key updates include:
- Supervisors will now receive confirmation of a student’s work-study funding before extending job offers.
- A new notification system in Workday is in the works to alert students and supervisors when funding has been awarded, ensuring quicker starts.
- A monitoring tool, launching in spring, will allow supervisors to track students’ work-study balances.
These improvements aim to enhance the work-study experience for the 922 students already offered over $3.1 million in work-study funding.
Fundraising campaign enters public phase in 2025
The Office of University Advancement has been working on MSU Denver’s first comprehensive campaign, which will launch into its public phase in February.
The original goal for the campaign was to raise $75 million, but that goal was exceeded, so it has been increased to $100 million.
A celebratory campus event is scheduled for Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in the Auraria PE Event Center to showcase and support campaign progress.
This milestone represents a pivotal moment in securing resources that align with MSU Denver’s mission and strategic goals.
Ongoing conversations on public comment
The Cabinet engaged in a robust discussion about allowing public comment during meetings. Hailey Glass, representative of The Student Advocacy Council, expressed support for allowing students the opportunity to speak before the President’s Cabinet.
While a decision has not been made, the topic will be revisited at the January meeting.
Roadrunner Shoutouts
Faculty winner: Brenden Kendall, professor, Communication Studies
Nominated by Wilfredo Alvarez, assistant professor, Communication Studies, who wrote:
“Professor Kendall is our go-to person for all things ‘advising.’ He set up a thorough tutorial to teach new faculty members how to advise students. Professor Kendall is always knocking on people’s doors to ask, ‘Do you need anything?’ He has spent long hours talking with me about everything from Denver real estate to advising, teaching and research matters.
“Brenden Kendall is someone who is deeply committed to enacting MSU Denver’s core values.”
Staff-employee winner: Shelley Thompson, associate vice president for University Advancement
Nominated by Christine Márquez-Hudson, who wrote:
“Shelley has played a pivotal role in the implementation of MSU Denver’s first comprehensive campaign. Under her leadership, she has grown the development team, including providing valuable training and coaching, reorganizing roles and responsibilities, clarifying goals and building team culture.
“Shelley also manages her own portfolio and has been directly or indirectly behind some of our most important gifts. As a result, this past fiscal year, the team raised a record-setting $21 million.
“She is a leader, a coach, a fundraiser and an MSU Denver cheerleader!”
Student-employee winner: Juan Manuel Gonzalez, Student Events programmer, The Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion
Nominated by Brian Guerrero, associate to the vice president of Student Affairs, who wrote:
“Juan displayed exceptional leadership, creativity and commitment through the planning and execution of our 2024 Convocation, working alongside full-time staff, peer students and colleagues to create an event that truly reflected the values and spirit of MSU Denver.
“Juan was also instrumental in leading discussions about the student journey and translating that into a program that was engaging and informative, offering a warm welcome to our incoming class and their families. The student-centric approach ensured that the day’s activities resonated with everyone and provided a memorable introduction to campus life.
“Juan’s ability to lead, inspire and organize a complex event with many moving parts speaks to their maturity and leadership potential.”
