Interview Feature Story

Sara Lynn Colley

COM 3330-4

Interview Feature Story

September 27, 2011

Jeff Cooper is director of residence life at Kennesaw State University, and is responsible for all staff, programs and budget matters in the department. He has served residence life at KSU for three years, and is actively involved in national, regional and state-level associations related to student affairs and student housing. Cooper, who is also residence life representative on the committee for the new KSU dorms under construction, sat down with reporter Sara Colley to discuss those new residence halls.

Colley: When is the estimated date of completion for all of the south-side dorms?

Cooper: Although we do not know an exact date they will be done by August 2012, just in time for the next group of students.

Colley: Can you tell me what the individual dorms will look like? How many rooms, will residents be sharing a bathroom, etc.?

Cooper: The new residence halls are fashioned to resemble the existing dorms at KSU’s University Place, and will be located on the other side of the street. The dorms will be brick with elevators in each building. There will be three buildings with 450 new rooms in each, and one common area in the terrace level of one of the buildings. This common area will accommodate all programming needs for the entire UP community. Each dorm unit will have four bedrooms and four bathrooms, with a living room and kitchen.

Colley: What is one thing the new residential halls of UP will have that will make residents want to move into them?

Cooper: There will be an outdoor amphitheatre in between the old and new University Place residence halls, making it the center of the new community. The amphitheatre will have a built in stage, and possibly host concerts, comedy acts, and open microphone nights.  

Colley: What does residence life expect from these dorms?

Cooper: The dorms will be occupied for upperclassmen only, but we don’t want it to be a “retirement home”. It should have identity and excitement, with more large scale events.

Colley: As director of residence life, what are some changes you will make to accommodate for the new residence halls?

Cooper: We will hire 10 more resident assistants for the buildings, and possibly one more resident director.

Colley: Why was the name University Place kept?

Cooper: The name UP was kept because the name is so well known by KSU students and they have so much pride in it. There were focus group surveys conducted over the summer, and the name is already so established. Plus there is a lot of literature to be changed when you change the name of a residential community as large as UP. It is a costly change, and we have other places we can spend that money.

Colley: What is your biggest concern with the new apartments being built in Kennesaw?

Cooper: The impact to university housing demand may decrease, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Our main concern is that students have quality housing, a safe place to live, and somewhere that is academically supportive. We do hope students do their research on which housing community will fit them best.