Keiser University was pleased to hold its Residential Life Center Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, April 11th at its Keiser University Flagship Campus. To view the WPTV television coverage, please click here.

Kicking-off a capital campaign to further transform the campus into an international destination, the new Residential Life Center demonstrates the university’s commitment to students first. Sodexo invests in the quality of life for Keiser University Flagship campus and is an industry leader in university food services and facilities management.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous contribution from Sodexo and to partner with them to help students from all over the world feel right at home on our campus,” said Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., Keiser University. “Sodexo already provides state of the industry service at Flagship, which complements the Keiser University ‘Student First’ philosophy. Inherent in this relationship is a continued emphasis on investing in the quality of life for our students and the surrounding community.”

The four-story, 51,000-square foot facility will be built alongside the lake between the Student Life Center and Dalby Commons buildings and will add another 208 beds along with a lounge, lobby, laundry, study area, and multi-purpose rooms. “In addition to convenience, comradery and fewer worries, living on campus gives students the opportunity to gain important independent living skills necessary for their transition to adulthood. We have proudly provided dining services to Keiser for many years and are now delighted to make this investment to further enhance the Quality of Life on campus,” said Aubry Wooten, senior vice president, Universities East, Sodexo North America. “It is an honor to continue serving the university community and enrich the student experience by ensuring they are able to enjoy everything university life has to offer.”

“Partnering with Sodexo, a leader in the postsecondary market in facilities, dining and student life is a mutually beneficial relationship with Keiser University. Capitalizing on Sodexo’s experience allows us to increase our efficiencies and effectiveness assisting the students at the Flagship campus,” Joseph C. Berardinelli, Senior Vice Chancellor of Finance/ CFO/ Treasurer at Keiser University. “We are thankful to Sodexo for their support of our students, and are enthusiastic about our growing campus, as our breathtaking 100-acre location offers exciting prospects for development,” said Dr. Gary Vonk, Flagship campus president.

Construction on the new building is set to begin in July 2019 and be completed prior to the start of the fall semester of 2020. Keiser University’s Flagship campus currently has nearly 1,000 students from 42 states and 57 countries. Almost 400 live in campus housing. As a member of the Sun Conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Keiser University offers 25 college sports including football, which debuted this fall.

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 72 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 150,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $32 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.