As student mental health challenges intensify, campus housing is evolving beyond shelter to become a critical platform for wellbeing, connection, and retention. This session explores how colleges and universities are embedding wellness principles into student housing through thoughtful space planning, residential amenities, and the strategic co-location of support services.
Panelists will examine how housing design influences self-identification, belonging, and help-seeking behaviors; the relationship between living environments and retention outcomes; and the cost implications of unit size, amenity programming, and community-building spaces. The discussion will also address the distinct needs of community college and four-year students, including strategies to raise awareness of support services and integrate them directly into residential settings.
Attendees will gain practical insight into balancing affordability, operational realities, and student wellbeing—while designing housing environments that foster stability, dignity, and long-term success.