Stetson University's new campus plans: New residence hall, updating Edmunds Center, more

Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·3 min read
Stetson University is expected to break ground this summer on a new 305-bed residence hall in the center of campus near the Carlton Union Building and Templeton Fountain. The four-story structure is expected to open in 2026.
Stetson University is expected to break ground this summer on a new 305-bed residence hall in the center of campus near the Carlton Union Building and Templeton Fountain. The four-story structure is expected to open in 2026.

Stetson University has gotten the Volusia County Council's blessing to to borrow $70 million in bonds to build a new residence hall, renovate the Edmunds Center and make other campus improvements.

The 88,000-square-foot, four-story residence hall will provide 305 beds when it opens in 2026, according to a university news release. Ground will be broken this summer just east of the Carlton Union Building and the colorful Templeton Fountain on the DeLand campus.

Christopher Roellke, president of Stetson University
Christopher Roellke, president of Stetson University

Stetson's announcement also included plans for other campus improvements and the Board of Trustees' decision to extend university President Christopher Roellke's contract through 2030. Roellke started as president in 2020.

"At Stetson, as much learning goes on outside the classroom as inside the classroom,” Roellke said. “Residential living and learning is an essential part of the Stetson experience and we are thrilled to be making these investments in student well-being and success."

DeLand university could borrow up to $70 million

The university did not put a price tag on the new residence hall or other projects. However, the County Council found public purpose in approving the sale of $70 million in bonds by the Educational Facilities Authority of Volusia County.

The proceeds of the sale will go to Stetson as a loan. The authority, a mechanism for local higher educational institutions to finance construction and other projects, approved Stetson's plan earlier in April.

The issuance of bonds will not cost the county anything.

Benefits of living on campus

The new residence hall will offer a mix of rooms: double-occupancy, shared suites and individual, as well as community kitchens, lounges and common areas. A new campus master plan includes added landscaping and curved pedestrian walkways.

Stetson University is expected to break ground this summer on a new 305-bed residence hall in the center of campus near the Carlton Union Building and Templeton Fountain. The four-story structure is expected to open in 2026.
Stetson University is expected to break ground this summer on a new 305-bed residence hall in the center of campus near the Carlton Union Building and Templeton Fountain. The four-story structure is expected to open in 2026.

"The vision behind our new residence hall is that it's not just for the students who live there. It's a new hub for all students to be in community," said Jessica Day, Stetson's executive director of residential living & learning.

The university requires most of its undergraduates to live on campus in their first three years. About 7 in 10 Stetson students live on campus.

Stetson officials extol the virtues of on-campus living that universities have historically cited: "Easy access to academic buildings and the vibrant campus community, and more opportunities to form personal connections and lifelong friendships."

They cited a positive effect on student retention and national research showing on-campus students tend to have higher grade-point averages, graduation rates and involvement in campus organizations.

The project will add open green spaces, an amphitheater, curved pedestrian walkways and more landscaping, said Cory Lancaster, assistant vice president of marketing, communications and media relations.

The new residence hall won't necessarily raise Stetson's on-campus housing capacity, currently at 1,952 students. Existing dorms routinely undergo renovations and refurbishments, sometimes taking rooms temporarily offline, said Jeffery Gates, senior vice president of enrollment and marketing.

“We are looking to enhance the residential living and learning experience at Stetson,” Gates said.

Plans for Elizabeth Hall, Edmunds Center, Hulley Tower

Hulley Tower, first constructed on the campus of Stetson University in 1934, was dismantled in 2005. It will be rebuilt with a 52-bell carillon as part of a new strategic plan.
Hulley Tower, first constructed on the campus of Stetson University in 1934, was dismantled in 2005. It will be rebuilt with a 52-bell carillon as part of a new strategic plan.

Jeremy DiGorio, vice president of finance and chief financial officer, recently spoke to Stetson faculty and staff about a new strategic plan through 2030, that includes other projects:

  • Updating Elizabeth Hall, an iconic campus academic building first constructed in 1892, with new restrooms and an elevator to improve accessibility. Work is expected to be completed by the fall.

  • Starting renovations on the Edmunds Center, the 5,000-seat, 50-year-old arena that is home to the Stetson Hatters basketball teams, among its other purposes. New restrooms, seating and a sound system are in the works, as will be a new elevator, expected in summer 2025.

  • Restoring the historic Hulley Tower, built in 1934 but dismantled in 2005 after the weight of 11 massive bells eroded its structural integrity. Using donor funds and grants, Stetson said it intends to rebuild the tower to its original 116-foot height and add a 52-bell carillon.

New Leader in DeLand: Stetson University names Christopher Roellke as 10th president

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Stetson recommits to on-campus housing, announcing new residence hall