For the first time ever, Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) is able to offer student housing. Through their master lease with Holladay Properties, CCSJ rented 12 apartments at The Illiana in downtown Whiting, giving them the ability to house students near campus.
“We began helping students move in and get accommodated at the beginning of August and now, a few at a time, we’re continuing to move in additional students,” said Dr. Dionne Jones-Malone, Vice President of Student Engagement and Retention at CCSJ. “We (at CCSJ) love that we’re able to provide students with a new opportunity like this and are happy to begin our adventures with Residence Life.”
Dr. Jones-Malone’s main priority at CCSJ is student Life.
“This is uncharted territory for CCSJ, offering housing for students, and we have had such a fun and exciting time with the entire process,” she said.
Student housing at CCSJ makes sense to Dr. Jones-Malone, who has always admired the two-building campus for its close-knit feel.
“I’ve been working in higher education for over 25 years and I really love the intimate family environment that we have at CCSJ,” she said. “I feel truly excited and inspired to come to work every day and I love the ability I have here to get to know students on a more personal level – I always enjoy being able to write a letter of recommendation for a student and not feel like it’s generic in any way.”
The most appealing perk of The Illiana apartments, other than the fact that they are brand new, is their location and proximity to Indiana and Illinois.
“It’s only a 10 to 15 minute walk to campus and only about a 30-minute drive to the city of Chicago so I think whether students are taking care of their academic business or going for personal leisure, you really can’t beat the location,” said Jones-Malone.
But it’s not just the location and proximity of these apartments that draws students in.
One advantage of CCSJ’s master lease with Holladay Properties is that they are now able to house 40-50 students. The apartments are suite-style, so each apartment can comfortably house four students, which also provides students a sense of independence within the community.
Each suite is furnished with a bed, dresser, and a desk. Some amenities include: an in-suite washer and dryer, security cameras at each entrance and in the corridors, and an intercom system used to enter the building.
“History has it that there used to be an Illiana Hotel in that area; the name stuck, and they really wanted to preserve that history by naming the apartments after the hotel,” she said. “I’ve seen so much growth within the city of Whiting during my 15 years with Calumet College of St. Joseph – this is another positive addition to that!”
To learn more about The Illiana and to see current rates, please visit https://www.ccsj.edu/theilliana/information.php#admissionprocess.
