Colleagues and students,

I'm pleased to share with you that the Board of Trustees on Monday approved a motion that enables us to move forward with the planning, design and construction of a $30 million housing complex that will accommodate up to an additional 550 freshmen and sophomores on campus.

We know that demand for student housing has grown steadily in recent years, and yesterday's board action will go a long way to answering the needs of students looking to immerse themselves in the Oakland experience. We anticipate that this new housing, scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2014, will meet our current demand.

Part of the great news this brings is the fact that we'll be better able to welcome new students not only from this region, but from across the state and beyond. Respect for our strong academic programs, our outstanding faculty and our exciting student life experiences is spreading, and it's critical that we support that growth with increased access to on-campus housing.

As Dr. Snyder aptly noted after the Board took action yesterday, the increased presence of resident students will enhance student life and the university community experience for everyone here on campus.

I should also note that we will continue to stress the importance of energy efficient and environmentally friendly design with this project. As we did in designing both the Human Health Building and our new Engineering Center, we'll ardently pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for the new housing facility.

As always, I would like to thank all of you who contribute so much to raising the stature and reputation of Oakland University, whether that is by instructing and inspiring students, advancing knowledge through research and scholarship, or winning accolades for outstanding academic achievement. The impressive growth we've seen in recent years will be a lasting testament to your fine work.

Thank you,

Gary