At Colorado State University, off-campus housing is viewed as the foundation of academic success. Off-Campus Life, a department within the university, helps students find stability and community. The philosophy is that housing security is tied directly to student retention and well-being.
“All CSU students need and deserve a strong foundation, including a stable home and supporting community,” says Lindsay Mason, director of Off-Campus Life. With this in mind, Off-Campus Life reflects CSU’s investment in housing as an essential part of student success. The department’s dedicated team of full-time staff work daily to help students feel supported and secure.
In practice, CSU treats stable housing as a prerequisite for achievement. The approach is guided by psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. “Any form of instability can disrupt a student’s ability to succeed in the classroom,” Mason explains. That instability can include roommate conflicts, financial stress or homelessness.
From a bulletin board to a vital department
Support for students in off-campus housing began in the 1980s, when a simple bulletin board helped connect renters and landlords, Mason says. What started as a graduate position to advise peers on tenant rights has grown into a vital department with strong community partnerships.
Over time, Off-Campus Life expanded its reach. It partnered with the City of Fort Collins in 2001, became a standalone office in 2009 and added the university’s safe ride program, RamRide, in 2013.
Today, the department continues to evolve to meet student needs, Mason says.
Off-campus housing access and community connections
Off-Campus Life’s mission is simple: to ensure students have access to safe, stable and high-quality housing. To achieve that, CSU modernized its housing search process through a partnership with StarRez’s College Pads platform. As a result, staff spend less time managing technology and more time directly supporting students’ basic needs, Mason says.
Furthermore, transparency and accountability remain central to its mission. Through the Good Neighbor Program, landlords who meet clear housing and community standards are highlighted on the housing platform, fostering stronger ties between students and the local community.
In addition, Off-Campus Life strengthens neighborhood relationships through annual initiatives such as Fall Clean Up and Party Registration. These efforts are coordinated in partnership with the City of Fort Collins, Mason says.
The department’s impact reaches far and wide. During the 2024-25 academic year, Off-Campus Life supported students through:
- 21,155 participants in programs
- 4,628 guests who visited the office
- 50,000+ unique users accessing online resources
Beyond housing logistics, Off-Campus Life helps students navigate challenges like rising housing costs or limited rental access by connecting them with resources that promote financial stability and meet basic needs.
Lessons in off-campus housing for other institutions
As students transition to off-campus living, CSU offers Housing Fairs and family programs that connect them with property managers. Off-Campus Life also produces an annual Off-Campus Living Handbook co-written with the city.
“One of the biggest lessons learned in supporting off-campus students is the importance of meeting students where they are, both literally and figuratively, and listening closely to their needs,” Mason says.
That strategy applies to housing as much as learning. By working closely with students, institutions can design initiatives that are responsive, equitable and sustainable. Regular feedback helps campuses avoid misaligned programs and underused support services that fail to meet real housing challenges.
For CSU, one lesson is clear: housing plays a critical role in student success. “Supporting students’ housing, both on and off campus, is not just a matter of comfort—it is a direct investment in their academic success and a key component of student retention,” Mason says. Ultimately, when campuses prioritize housing stability, students thrive.
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