Canadian post-secondary institutions are facing increasingly complex challenges in planning for and delivering student housing that is financially sustainable and affordable for students, responds to student expectations and aligns with their missions.
CAUBO’s new report, Student Housing in Canadian Higher Education: A Strategic Framework for Planning and Delivery, provides timely insights and strategic guidance to help institutions navigate the evolving financial, demographic, and housing landscapes that are reshaping the sector.
Building on CAUBO’s 2012 report Building the Student Experience, this updated resource includes:
- Current state of student housing in higher education (Section 1): Presents a national overview of institutional housing portfolios, funding structures, occupancy levels, and planned investments. It also explores definitions of affordability across jurisdictions, helping institutions better define and address affordable housing.
- Framework to Inform a Student Housing Plan (Section 2): Introduces a planning framework that outlines various delivery models and key considerations for selecting the most appropriate development approach.
- Strategic and Commercial Considerations in Market-Led Models (Section 3): Examines the unique strategic and commercial considerations for market-led models, including guidance on structuring agreements, risk allocation, and maintaining the student experience in private delivery contexts.
The report serves as a practical tool that CAUBO members can use to inform long-term student housing strategies, support capital investment decisions, and adapt to a financially constrained and complex development landscape.