Purchase or build a Christian living center or learning center “across the street” from a major public university. Rent the center to Christian students (or even Christians working in the area). Benefits of your living/learning center include the following:
- Safe, clean residential housing
- Christian spiritual formation mentors
- Specialized library
- Life coaches (maybe InterVarsity, Cru or other staff)
- Classes (see below)
- Amenities (see below)
Classes
Offer several on-site classes from the (public) university’s catalog. Arrange for Christian faculty from the nearby public university to teach these classes, especially those who yearn to teach more openly from their Christian worldview.
Amenities
Leave the funding headaches of the amenities “arms race” behind. Let the public university provide the majority of courses as well as amenities:
- the main library
- science labs
- performing arts
- physical fitness centers
- competitive athletics
- other things most students want
Charge competitive rental fees and use a break-even financial model.
Use either not-for-profit or for-profit.
If you’re a stronger institution, use this idea as an add-on for greater Kingdom impact or an alternative to existing campuses.
Give students better amenities by opening a living or learning center near a public university.
This is a natural extension of the Christian living/learning mission of most Christian universities. What about the degree? Let students get their degree from the public university, hopefully with no debt. But their loyalty will be as great to the sponsor of the robust living environment. And their peer group (and long-time friends) will be those of like mind and heart.