Cottey
Suite life
Cottey has three residence halls: P.E.O, Reeves, and Robertson. P.E.O. Hall and Reeves Hall have ten suites each; while Robertson Hall has 14. Suites typically have a mix of new and returning students in double and single rooms around the country and the world. Each hall has a live-in hall director and three resident assistants. Cottey’s housing provides a unique living experience and environment. Residents come to Cottey from all segments of society, different cultures and countries, and with varying values systems and life experiences. In this living environment, suitemates and hall residents have an excellent opportunity to develop lifelong friendships. To take advantage of the opportunity, mutual respect and consideration (coupled with an awareness of, and sensitivity to, the needs of others) must be the standard of group living.
When asked, former students often mention suite life, the friends they made, and the things they learned in the suites as some of their most special Cottey memories.
History of Suite Endowments Suite endowments, like all endowments at Cottey College, are approved by the Cottey College Board of Trustees. The President and Vice President of International Chapter serve as ex-officio members on the Board. There are 34 suites, all named in honor of the state chapters or donors who initially provided funds to establish an endowment. Refurbishing the common living room is financed through the earnings from these permanently held funds. Cottey encourages suite sponsors to continue supporting their suite endowments to provide the means for the College to enhance suites beyond the common living room. When the Cottey College Board of Trustees established a minimum suite endowment of $25,000 in the early 1990s, such funds produced enough earnings to maintain the suite common living room. Due to increases in the costs of furnishings and labor, a suite endowment today should be $45,000 in order to generate enough earnings to periodically refurbish the suite common area. Replacing bedroom furnishings and upgrading suite utility rooms require additional funds. Each suite utility room is furnished with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, and hot plate.
Endowment Management All endowments at Cottey are pooled together and invested as a lump sum. This helps ensure the funds can earn a higher investment return. For example, if you were to place $25,000 in a savings account your interest rate would be lower than someone who is willing to invest $90 million in a very diverse investment portfolio. The endowed funds held by Cottey College are managed by professional investment managers under the guidelines approved by the Cottey College Board of Trustees. The endowed funds are held in perpetuity.
Common Living Rooms The purpose of the endowment is to earn enough to maintain the suite common living rooms. Cottey’s suite living areas function much like a family room. They are heavily used by students and their guests for relaxing, studying, and socializing. Stains occur on the carpets and furnishings, along with the wear and tear that one would expect from a family of ten or more members. The College takes pride in the quality and pleasant appearance of its suites. Personnel work hard to maintain them. Housekeepers clean the bathrooms daily and the suites weekly. Carpets are shampooed as needed. Housekeepers report any damage they discover and it is repaired as soon as possible. The cost of this upkeep, or maintenance of the suite, is covered by the College, not by the suite endowment fund or the suite accumulated earnings.
Refurbishing Rotation The Vice President for Administration and Finance works with a professional decorator to determine suite furnishings. In decorating the suites, the College considers the taste of college-age women as well as durability. The current cost to refurbish the common suite area is approximately $16,000-$20,000. Not surprisingly, the cost to refurbish a suite today is much greater than it was in the early nineties. Because of these increased costs, it was recommended in 2008 that a suite endowment be increased to $45,000 in order to generate enough earnings to refurbish the suite common area every 8-10 years depending on their condition and availability of accumulated earnings.
Suite Bedrooms Replacing bedroom furnishings requires additional funds above and beyond the endowment. Bedroom furnishings include a bed, dresser, desk, chair, and mirror for each occupant. States may choose to give additional funds to the College, not the endowment, to fund such a project. The selection of bedroom furniture is handled by the College, not the state.
Cottey Building Fund held by P.E.O. International Chapter The Building Fund is separate from the campus operating budget for maintenance. When a P.E.O. pays her dues, six dollars is set aside for the College. Four dollars is sent directly to the College for the annual support of the operating budget and two dollars is held in a building fund managed by the P.E.O. Sisterhood. The College may request funds from the Building Fund for major projects. The operating budget also covers everything from salaries to the upkeep of the grounds to the quality of the food served in the dining room.
SuiteInformation Hall Robertson P.E.O. P.E.O. P.E.O. Reeves Robertson Robertson Robertson Robertson P.E.O. Robertson P.E.O. Reeves Robertson Reeves P.E.O. P.E.O. Reeves Reeves Reeves Robertson P.E.O. P.E.O. Robertson Reeves Robertson
Reeves
Suite Arizona Arkansas CaliforniaͲGardner CaliforniaͲRemy CaliforniaͲWeller ColoradoͲMinear ColoradoͲThompson Dakota Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska NewMexico Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pope RosemaryAlumna Rubie SantaBarbara
Seaboard
Total Occupants
Bedroom Furnishings
Common Area
Endowment 6/30/16
10 10 10 10 11 10 10 9 10 10 15 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 14 11 12
2008 2004 2006 2006 2006
2008 2014 2010 2010 2015 2008 2012 2008 2010 2012 2015 2015 2012 2008 2008 2014 2015 2016 2012 2015 2016 2008 2016 2010 2007 2010
$48,415.36 $26,887.00 $26,140.00 $25,275.00 $26,300.00 $39,224.56 $40,917.55 $39,385.90 $45,000.00 $46,129.68 $52,714.25 $27,997.50 $32,375.00 $26,962.01 $40,426.00 $41,015.00 $58,395.93 $48,638.00 $42,176.40 $36,776.00 $33,967.55 $41,997.15 $28,149.19 $32,635.50 $25,000.00 $27,531.15
Arizona Arkansas California California California Colorado Colorado NorthandSouthDakota Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska NewMexico Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Mrs.BlanchePopeNeal CotteyAlumnaeAssn. MissRubieBurton MissRubieBurton
$49,680.92
Connecticut,Delaware,District ofColumbia,Massachusetts, Maryland,NewJersey,New York,andPennsylvania
10
2016 2000 2015 2015 2015 1998 2014 2004 2016 2009 2016 1998 2016 2016 1998 1998 1998
2007
2015
Sponsor
Robertson
Southeastern
10
2007
2008
$49,169.44
Reeves Robertson Reeves Robertson Robertson
Texas Wallace Washington Wheatlake Wisconsin
10 7 10 10 10
2014 2002 2016 1999 2006
2014 2010 2008 2008 2008
$44,875.00 $30,470.57 $34,144.17 $32,015.00 $29,523.57
Alabama,Georgia,Kentucky, Mississippi,NorthCarolina, SouthCarolina,Tennessee, Virginia,andWestVirginia Texas Iowa Washington Mr.BurtonWheatlake Wisconsin
P.E.O.
Yellowstone
10
2016
$57,731.78
Idaho,Montana,andWyoming
Information as of July 2016
