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Off-Campus Student Services Creates New Resources for Students

At this point in the fall semester, Off-Campus Student Services kicks into high gear with all things off-campus housing.  Our activities include community education programs for students, outreach through social media, updating our online resources, networking with local rental companies, and partnering with Student Government Association (SGA) to plan the January 2020 Housing Fair.  All of these efforts are aimed at providing as much information as possible to the $3,500+ Appalachian State students who transition from the residence halls to off-campus rental properties each academic year, as well as serving as a resource for the 12,000 students already living off-campus.  Our goal is to provide an array of tools to assist students in choosing and securing off-campus housing that meets their needs and is a good fit for them.  Our Off-Campus Student Services tagline:  Supporting an engaged, connected, and informed off-campus community. 

This year, we are developing two new initiatives.  With a grant from the Parent & Family Association, Off-Campus Student Services will create the first in a series of video tours of off-campus housing.  We know from research on Generation Z (individuals born after 1995) that we are more likely to reach and engage students through video presentations that offer information and entertainment in short “snackable bites.”  The new video series will do just that.  The videos created will be posted on the Off-Campus Student Services website and will be accessible to parents and students to view whenever is most convenient for them as they engage in their off-campus housing search.  The video tour project will begin this fall, with the first video posted within the next few months.

In addition, Off-Campus Student Services is developing an online “Off-Campus Housing Information Exchange.”  This new tool provides a way for students to share information about their off-campus housing experiences in Boone to assist other students in finding housing that matches their needs and priorities.  Currently, we are collecting student input through a short survey.  We hope to publish the first set of data before the end of fall semester – in time to serve as a resource for students who will be securing housing for the 2020-21 academic year.  Student Affairs staff and others are encouraged to spread the word to students they work with!  Find the survey here:  Off-Campus Housing Information Exchange

As our off-campus student population continues to grow, Off-Campus Student Services is always looking for new ways to reach and serve this group of students.  We welcome feedback and suggestions as we try to make sure that moving off-campus is a good experience!