Student Housing Business is the voice of the student housing industry.
Issue link: https://studenthousingbusiness.epubxp.com/i/488341
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MARCH/APRIL 2015 STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS .COM 62 and access to intramural sports. (Because of the perception that public transit systems are unsafe in some cities, long-term internation- al students from the Middle East or Europe are increasingly buying cars for their time in the United States, says Benefel). United Realty Management Corp. manages a property called College Suites at City Station located adjacent to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. Jeff Arnold, COO, and Jonathan Masullo, marketing oper- ations manager, believe their prop- erty's proximity is important, but so is what's at the property. "If international students don't have a vehicle," says Arnold, "they want to be close to campus, but they also want to be close to the community and be able to get groceries and necessities." "Our property is mixed-use, so students can also get a haircut or sandwich on-site," he says. Also of beneft is that College Suites at City Station features fully furnished units. "If you're coming from overseas, you literally only need your luggage and you can move in and be very comfortable," says Masullo. According to Arnold, directly behind location for international students is speed and connectivity to the Internet. "Size of living space is more of an American issue, but international students want high- speed Internet and amenities for study like lounges or meeting rooms with whiteboards and pro- jectors," he says. In Redstone Residential Inc.'s experience, international stu- dents are looking to live where their friends have already been. According to Grant Collard, co- founder and partner, and Jake Jarman, COO, it's very uncommon for international students to search out an unknown location. "They're creatures of habit in terms of being with friends and individuals who came to the uni- versity from their own high school or university back home," says Jarman. According to Collard, "Cultures in other countries respect author- ity, and they're going to take the advice of their home university's program advisor over social media or any other type of advertising, hands down." Jarman adds, "They really look for a quiet place to study. The majority are not here to party, they have an incredible work ethic and study ethic, and want to utilize space meant for quiet study." A close second, in Redstone's view, is high-speed Internet access. In addition to studying, students need the access to communicate Fitness equipment at a student housing property allows students to have an on-site recreational amenity. GRANT COLLARD Co-founder and partner Redstone Residential JEFF ARNOLD COO United Realty Management Corp. JAKE JARMAN Chief Operating Offcer Redstone Residential