Student Union Survey Power Point With Changes 2 10 06

Student Union Proposal

Prepared by Cary F. Poole

Dean of Students

February 13, 2006

Student Union Survey

• Abilene Christian University

• Angelo State University

• Austin College

• Dallas Baptist University

• Duke University

• Mars Hill College

• Navarro College

• Southwestern Assemblies of God University

• Southwestern University

• Tarleton State University

• Texas Woman’s University

• University of North Texas

• University of Texas at Arlington

Traditionally considered the “hearthstone” or “living room” of the campus, today’s union is the gathering place of the college.

ACUI—Association of College Unions International

To meet its goals, college unions should provide:

- Food service- Leisure time and recreational opportunities- Social, cultural and intellectual programs- Continuing education opportunities- Retail stores- Service agencies that are responsive to campus needs - Student leadership development programs and opportunities- Student employment- Student development programs______________________________________CAS STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

When evaluating plans for a new student center or remodeling an existing one, there are several

questions to consider.

    Does it reflect the mission of the campus and reinforce the institution’s sense of identity?

     When you walk into your student center, do you feel welcomed?     Does it facilitate learning?_______________________________________________STUDENT AFFAIRS TODAY

     WHAT ARE THE FAVORITE AMENITIES YOUR STUDENTS LIKE?

• MEETING ROOMS• BANKING• CHANGING BOARDS (DIRECTED AT ADDRESSING

COMMUTER CONCERNS)• COFFEEHOUSE• GRAPHICS LABS• FOOD• FITNESS ZONE, RECREATION CENTER, HEALTH CENTER: SEVEN OF THE INSTITUTIONS HAD FITNESS/WELLNESS

CENTER IN THE UNION AND FIVE MORE HAD LARGE FITNESS CENTERS IN OTHER LOCATIONS.

• GAME ROOM• CAFÉ

WHAT AMENITIES DO YOUR STUDENTS NOT USE AND YOU WOULD NOT

INCORPORATE NEXT TIME?

• FIRST RUN MOVIES (TOO EXPENSIVE)

• BOWLING (2) ACU IS RUNNING AT $6,000 A YEAR DEBT

• COPY CENTER

• EQUIPMENT CHECK OUT TOO FAR FROM GAME ROOM

• CAREER LIBRARY

• COMPUTER LOUNGE

DO YOU HAVE ADEQUATE MEETING ROOMS FOR CONFERENCES AND ORGANIZATIONS?

UNIVERSITY Current Meeting Rooms Current Needs

TWU 6 COULD USE MORE

UTA 13 COULD USE 20

UNT 7, SEATING 35-50 S 7 NEED MORE

DBU 1 Needs 3-10 SMALL ONES

ACU 2 ROOMS/SEATING 110-260

1 ROOM SEATING 10

MARS HILL 3 Rooms NEED MORE

TSU 4 ROOMS, BALLROOM SEATING 400

NEED 5-6 MORE

ASU HAS 16 NEEDS MORE FLEXIBLE SPACE

AUSTIN COLLEGE HAS 5 NEEDS 8-10

WHAT STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICES ARE HOUSED WITHIN YOUR

STUDENT UNION?• STUDENT LIFE • VA• TYPICAL STUDENT SETUP• REGISTAR• CASHIER• ADMISSIONS• SGA • LEADERSHIP CAMPUS

OFFICE• SAFETY/SECURITY• INTER GREEK COUNCIL• STUDENT POST OFFICE• GENEOLOGICAL

RESEARCH*

• SCHOLAR OFFICE*• CAREER COUNSELING• ATHLETIC FUNDRAISERS*• FINANCIAL

AID/COUNSELING/ADMISSIONS

• DOCTOR *REQUIREMENT TO

QUALIFY FOR DONATION

ARE THERE OFFICES YOU WOULD NOT

PUT IN YOUR STUDENT UNION? • CAMPUS POLICE • VP FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS• HEALTH CENTER* • COUNSELING CENTER* • INFIRMARY*• ADMISSIONS**

*DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY, THESE OFFICES WERE LOCATED ELSEWHERE

**MOST UNION OFFICES FELT THE TRAFFIC INTERFERED WITH DAILY STUDENT ACTIVITIES

IS A FOOD SERVICE AREA INCORPORATED WITHIN YOUR STUDENT

UNION?

NINE INSTITUTIONS HAD THE MAIN CAFETERIA IN THE STUDENT UNION AND 3 DID NOT. IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN CAFETERIA, THE FOLLOWING WERE ALSO LOCATED WITHIN THE BUILDING:

C-STORE – GROWING PRESENCECOFFEHOUSE – GROWING PRESENCEFOOD COURT – FOUND ON LARGER CAMPUSESSNACK BAR – MOST UNIONS HAD THIS FEATURE

WHAT IS THE SERVICE CAPACITY FOR YOUR STUDENT UNION AND THE ENROLLMENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY?

UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT SQ. FT. COMMENTS

TWU 13,200 36,700 Can accommodate 2500

UTA 25,000 240,000 Can accommodate 1000

UNT 33,000 *330,000

DBU 5000 42,000

ACU 4,700 115,000 Can accommodate 1500

MARS HILL 1,375 24,329 Seating from 50-250

TSU 7,400 103,000 Can accommodate 600

ASU 6,500 111,000 Can accommodate 1000

AUSTIN COLLEGE 1,350 87,000

DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF MASCOT INDENTIFICATION AND USE OF

SCHOOL COLORS?• TWU WILL SOON HAVE MATS/WALLS/ETC.• MHC HAS MASCOT PAINTED ON DOORS, COFFEHOUSE IS

DECORATED WITH PICTURES OF SURROUNDINGS, ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY, AND CAMPUS ACTIVITES

• ACU HAS STATUE OF WILDCAT IN THE UNION, UNIVERSITY WON’T ALLOW THE USE OF SCHOOL COLORS

• TSU - DATES AND COLORS ARE USED• ASU-VERY LITTLE, NEEDS MORE MASCOT ID• DBU - THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BUILDING• UNT HAS FIGHT SONG AND ALMA MATER PAINTED IN

STAIRWELLS/ALL FORMICA TABLE TOPS ARE IN SCHOOL COLORS. UNT HAS STATUTE OF EAGLE OUTSIDE OF UNION.

• AUSTIN COLLEGE HAS “POUCH” CLUB AND MURALS

HOW DOES AN INDIVIDUAL OR OFFICE HANDLE RESERVATIONS AND WHAT ARE

THE STAFFING LEVELS?

• TWU - 4 FULL TIME, 7 STUDENTS

• UTA - 6 FULL TIME, 20 STUDENTS

• ACU - 3 FULL TIME, 14-20 STUDENTS

• TSU - 6 FULL TIME, 15 STUDENTS/20 HOURS/ WEEK

• ASU - 4 FULL TIME, 25+ STUDENT WORKERS

• AUSTIN COLLEGE - 1 FULL TIME, 1 PART TIME, 13 STUDENTS

• MARS HILL COLLEGE - 1 FULL TIME, 20 STUDENTS

HOW POPULAR ARE GAME ROOMS?

• UNT - VERY UP AND DOWN, BUT NECESSARY

• UTA - NOT IN DFW

• MHC - NOT MUCH, MORE HAPPY WITH POOL TABLE AND TABLE TENNIS

• TWU - VERY, BUT NEED TO BE OUT AND VISIBLE, NO ARCADE GAMES, HAS SPLIT OPERATORS AND PROGRAMMING,

• ACU - RUNS IN CYCLES, USE X BOX GAMES, 16 PEOPLE PLAY AT ONE TIME

• ASU HAS TWO ARCADES, USED VERY LITTLE

• DBU - PING PONG AND POOL

• AUSTIN COLLEGE - POOL AND TABLE TENNIS ARE STRONG BUT VIDEO GAMES ARE NOT

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM UNION

DIRECTORS: • NEED ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE• SHORTAGE OF POWER AND INTERNET/WIRELESS CAPABILITY• NICE COMBINATION OF POOL TABLES, TABLE TENNIS, KAROKE, DANCE FLOOR,

COMPUTER TABLES• MAKE SURE YOU BUILD BIG ENOUGH• MAKE WIRELESS AVAILABLE, DECREASES THE NEED FOR A WIRELESS CAFÉ• STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICES NEED TO BE MORE VISIBLE• CREATE A WELLNESS CENTER TO HOUSE FITNESS CENTER• CREATE MORE LOUNGE SPACE, DESIGN FOR PEOPLE TO HANG OUT• ADD STUDY TABLES• PLENTY OF PARKING • PUT LOCKERS IN TV LOUNGE FOR BOOK BAGS• GIVE SGA/SOAC SPACE IN THE UNION• DO NOT BUILD AN AMPHITHEATRE • YOU CAN NEVER OVERBUILD YOUR UNION.• DECIDE EARLY WHO SHOULD BE IN THE NEW FACILITY.

“There are many reasons to assess student satisfaction levels. Among the most compelling for institutions is that numerous higher education studies have shown that low satisfaction levels contribute to student attrition.”

 Charles Schroeder,

Senior Executive, Noel-Levitz

Key findings: Noel-Levitz/Student Center- Significant Improvement 

Although currently enrolled students view the student center as less important than some other facilities, it is nonetheless an important campus space. Many campuses have invested in better and more attractive physical facilities, including coffee houses and attractive gathering spaces. This has included making updates to buildings that had been out-of-date in recent years to make them more functional and appealing. In addition, on many campuses, new, state-of-the-art recreation facilities have taken the place of the “traditional” student union and now serve as a major hub for student involvement and social interaction.

Exterior of Buildings

Interior

Food

Office Space

Classroom Space

Odds and Ends

Proposed Square Footage

• Multi Use 21,020 sf• Office space 2,760 sf• Student Services 5,660

sf• Student Activities

4,700 sf

• Food Service 12,650 sf

• Total Gross Area=73,584 sf

• Projected budget-$13,613,040-$15,820,560