Planning for the Future: Housing Fundraising Campaign

Daytona State launches fundraising campaign for second residence hall.

Based on the resounding success of DSC’s first residence hall that opened Fall 2022, a fundraising campaign for a second facility launched in April 2023. College leaders anticipate a building with approximately 52,000 square feet of space, housing 200 students, and opening as early as Fall 2025.

In 2018, a study Daytona State commissioned showed the College could support more than 500 residents on campus, and in the last year, more than 1,000 applications were received for student housing from Volusia and Flagler counties, as well as from across the state and country. The first facility is already full again for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.

“With skyrocketing rents and affordable housing shortages, we strongly believe we can accommodate a second residence hall on our Daytona Beach Campus,” said Tom LoBasso, Daytona State College President.

“Daytona State’s mission centers on affordable, open access educational opportunities, and our residence halls mirror that. Our goal is to create more on-campus living opportunities for more students. And here’s the important part – we want to keep it affordable for all of our students.”

Residence halls at DSC cannot be funded with state or college funds, therefore private donations from individuals and businesses are necessary. With help from the DSC Foundation, this fundraising campaign will ensure on-campus housing remains affordable and accessible, even for those students who receive financial aid to pursue their education.

Initial plans as of this writing include four bedrooms in each suite and a kitchenette, and will be primarily geared toward second year students. Studies show that students who live on campus are more engaged with their instructors, utilize academic support systems more frequently, and participate more in on-campus activities.

“My campus experience so far has been really good,” said Rick Stroethoff, an international student who hails from Amsterdam. “I’ve been able to make a lot of new friends and meet a lot of new people. I’ve been doing great academically as well, so I really feel like living here has been a step forwards in the right direction for my education.”

“I chose Daytona State College because it was close to home in Orlando, but it was just far away enough where I would have space away from my parents,” said Dalton Fleshood. “I felt there were a lot of great opportunities here that would help me pursue academic success, as well as athletically. Because of the close, tight-knit community, I’ve made a lot of friends and I feel really connected with the school as a whole.”

If you would like to help keep on-campus housing within reach for our students, please make your gift with the Daytona State College Foundation by emailing Foundation@DaytonaState.edu or calling (386) 506-3195.