Residence Hall Reinvestment Program
Howard is pairing near-term residence-hall improvements with a sequenced program of major renovations designed to strengthen the residential experience over multiple academic years.
2026-2027 Academic Year Opening Status: Cook Hall is closed while its major renovation phase advances. Drew Hall and Bethune Annex remain part of the planned sequence of future work. Student assignments, move-in operations, and resident-service information remain under Student Affairs.
A Long-Term Investment in Student Life
Residence halls are not just places to sleep. They are where students build community, study, gather, prepare for the day, and establish the routines that support academic success. The reinvestment program is intended to improve those daily experiences while renewing major building systems and extending the useful life of Howard's residential assets.
A Phased Renewal of Howard Housing
Howard is sequencing major residence-hall renovations so that intensive work can move forward while the University continues to meet student housing needs. Cook Hall is the first major phase and is closed for the 2026-2027 academic year while work advances across resident spaces, shared amenities, and core building systems.
Drew Hall is planned as the next major phase, followed by Bethune Annex. Near-term work at Drew also includes a renewed grooming amenity, while targeted unit and wellness improvements at Bethune are advancing alongside planning for the broader renovation sequence.
What the Program Will Improve
The program is focused on the parts of a residence hall that shape daily life: reliable building systems; refreshed resident rooms and shared spaces; places to study, gather, exercise, and care for oneself; and more welcoming common areas. Advancing the work over multiple academic years allows Howard to make substantial improvements while preserving continuity across the housing portfolio.
Related Housing Improvements
This major renovation sequence sits alongside targeted improvements elsewhere in the housing portfolio. Renewed lounges, grooming and wellness spaces, technology areas, and other shared amenities allow students to benefit from focused upgrades while larger building programs move through planning and construction.
Resident Information
This page explains Howard's forward-looking residence-hall renovation program. Current room assignments, rates, move-in guidance, maintenance routes, and residence-life policies are maintained on the Student Affairs housing website.
Future phases and dates reflect current targets as of the opening of the 2026-2027 academic year and may change as project scope, housing operations, and delivery schedules develop.