ABIGAIL SHAUB
PHOTOGRAPHER
GRACE MAIN
COPY EDITOR
4/13/2026
Editor’s Note: The previous edition covering this issue omitted key details; this article provides additional context.
Alma College is selling nine properties, including the lots where the current MacCurdy and Chapel Small Houses are, in addition to some faculty rental houses. While closing the houses was not an easy decision, it has been part of the long-term goal of keeping the college afloat in a time where small colleges are facing enrollment and financial issues.
Enrollment at Alma has fallen by 20% in the last six years, and space in the apartments, suites, small houses and residence halls is no longer being completely filled. This is leaving beds empty—but the utilities, maintenance and property costs remain—meaning that the college is losing money on the unfilled space.
“In the fall, out of a total of 1,305 beds, 1,068 were filled, or 81.84%. For the winter, just 1,005 are filled, 77.01%. One of those challenges is maintaining more space than we can fully utilize. The MacCurdy House, for example, is currently about two-thirds full and has not reached full occupancy since the Fall of 2022,” said Joe Odenwald, Alma College President.
“Though generously donated more than 30 years ago, it [the MacCurdy House] came without an endowment and now requires approximately $35,500 in major infrastructure work — roughly 10 percent of our annual maintenance budget for the entire campus,” said Odenwald.
Last year, the Pride House closed for similar reasons of high repair costs and not filling the house. In response to this closure, The Grove Living Learning Community (LLC) was formed for LGBTQ+ students looking for a similar atmosphere that the Pride House provided.
LLCs are hallways in the Residence Halls where people with shared interests, backgrounds, identities or educational interests can live close and form a community based around those concentrations. They also include mentorship services and programming, specific to the needs and goals of the students.
“The LLCs have a lot of success connecting students to mentors and helping build community around common identities and goals. These connections are powerful, and they help students overcome barriers while in college so they can thrive. We are still evaluating Year 1 of The Grove, but I can already see the benefits gained from intentional mentorship,” said Alice Kramer, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement.
The plan is to create a new LLC in place of the MacCurdy House, and, unlike the other LLCs on campus, this one will be specifically for upperclassmen.
“Residence Life is partnering with student leaders and faculty to create a new LLC that will continue the mission of the MacCurdy House. We are still building the programmatic elements of the LLC, but we have space reserved and are actively recruiting upperclassmen students to join the community,” said Kramer.
By selling the nine properties, the college has four goals as a way of being more fiscally responsible.
“First, to generate funds to immediately put into student spaces. Second, to build an emergency fund for repairs. Third, it is also true that we need to reduce the cleaning, mowing, utilities, plowing, and other costs associated with having so much excess space. And finally, … Faster response to maintenance requests and more time for preventative maintenance which reduces major issues later,” said Odenwald.
Currently, the College does not have an emergency fund for repairs, so when issues happen like the pipes bursting on South Campus, that goes into the $35,500 that is budgeted only for expected maintenance costs.
If anyone or any pair or roommates are looking to live in the new LLC, contact Cassi McGaugh or Dr. Dora-Laskey.
The Almanian: News 
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