Morgan Prepares to Launch Comprehensive Student Housing Strategy

Dear Morgan Community:

As the current semester draws to a close and we set our attention on the new year and Spring 2022 semester, I am writing to give you a brief update on our plans for student housing going forward.  Please know that enhancing our on- and off-campus housing stock is one of our top priorities at Morgan. 

A few years ago, the University conducted a study of its housing needs; hundreds of students were surveyed and interviewed. The result was a comprehensive report that revealed students desired more on-campus housing, strategies for building new housing and for renovating existing units, and some guidance as to how we can accomplish these goals without financial support from the State of Maryland which has not traditionally provided funding for the development of on-campus student housing.

Given the complexity of managing all of these moving parts while simultaneously maintaining full on-campus housing availability, the University decided to implement many of the study’s findings in phases. Phase 1 was to construct a new residential facility (Thurgood Marshall). Now, with the imminent completion of the new Thurgood Marshall Residential Complex, slated for summer 2022, the University is vigilantly seeking to augment our existing housing options by continuing to lease rooms at many of the facilities we currently have under lease, while also evaluating modern, apartment-style housing that is convenient to campus. The goal is to acquire an ample inventory of housing options that can wholly meet the growing housing needs of our students in the short term, while plans proceed to build new housing and renovate existing facilities.

Over the last few months, several members of my Executive Leadership Team, including Dr. Kevin Banks, vice president for Student Affairs, Mr. Sidney Evans, executive vice president for Finance and Management, Dr. Kara Turner, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success, and Ms. Kim McCalla, associate vice president for Design and Construction, have been singularly focused on developing a comprehensive housing plan for the University that will unfold, or be implemented, over the next few years. This plan would enable Morgan to:

• Provide housing to address the on-campus demand by building another residential hall within the next 2-3 years, possibly in the existing site of O’Connell Hall. The plan would include razing O’Connell Hall;
• Renovate several of the existing campus residence halls (i.e., Baldwin, Cummings, and Harper Tubman), possibly starting in Fall 2022; and
• Bring housing rates to a level comparable with other in-state peer institutions as renovations and new construction are completed. Currently, our housing rates are significantly lower than those of our peers within the state.

In February, we will be introducing our Phase II plan to Morgan’s Board of Regents for their review and approval. This plan will be instrumental in positioning the University for long-term success, and as stated, will include securing additional off-campus housing options, making major improvements to existing on-campus residential units, and procuring the fiscal support to develop new student housing. 

This year, we welcomed our largest class of first-year students in University history and our enrollment reached a record high. With the influx of additional students, the need for more housing has grown exponentially over the last few years. As a result, every available bed was needed and accounted for, even those targeted to be taken offline, or identified for upgrades, were assigned to accommodate students in need. The increased demand this year even prompted the University to secure the entirety of the Delta Hotel, leasing all available inventory for our students.

At the conclusion of this semester, minor renovations will begin for some of our legacy housing buildings. Starting the week of December 14, all necessary maintenance will commence and continue over the holiday break and will be ongoing until all critical needs are addressed. During the winter semester break, living spaces and communal areas will undergo a thorough cleaning and sanitization, followed by a full treatment of all residential halls by pest management services retained by the University. The goal is to not only deliver noticeable housing improvements for the Spring semester and a more favorable overall student experience but to also create the conditions for a successful Fall 2022 semester as we anticipate housing to be a top priority.

As the University continues to grow in prestige and stature, more students are choosing Morgan to pursue their education. They, like you, understand that a world-class Morgan education will imbue them with the skills to be the leaders and innovators of the future. As such, we predict that our need for adequate on-campus housing accommodations will continue to grow. This plan is one where we will have new and renovated housing at Morgan within a few short years.

We appreciate the understanding and patience of our students and parents as we work together to achieve the goals we share. I implore you to work with us as we experience a few “growing pains” as we make our way through this next era of Morgan preeminence.  

With the highest regard,

President David K. Wilson