Photos: OU breaks ground on new student housing

Oakland University administrators demonstrated their commitment to campus life this morning by breaking ground on the new student housing complex.

Located on Meadow Brook Drive just east of the Ann V. Nicholson Student Apartments, the facility will have the capacity to house 500 students. It is scheduled for completion in 2014.

“Offering students a welcoming, engaging and inspiring setting in which to pursue their college studies will motivate them to fully immerse themselves in the learning process,” said Mary Beth Snyder, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

“A college education should be a life-changing experience for students, and I’m confident that addressing their needs and aspirations with these new facilities will make attending Oakland even more rewarding.”

Approved in concept by the Board of Trustees last December, the new student housing complex incorporate The Honors College and classrooms, a small cafe, and space for student meetings and private and group studying.

Steady student enrollment growth has fueled growing demand for housing, as indicated by a 37 percent increase in rental agreements over the last four years alone. Greater availability of on-campus living is expected to enhance both the academic and extracurricular experience of Oakland's students.

“I am very excited for the housing project,” said Samantha Wolf, president of the 2012-13 Oakland University Student Congress. “As a student who has lived on campus for my whole college experience, I can say that it really has made my time at OU the best it could be. I know that with more housing opportunities, more students will fall in love with OU the way I did.”