ACUI Open Forum

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  • 1.  Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-28-2021 11:40

    Hello All!  We know that structurally the Union serves as a gathering place for students and campus members.  When given the opportunity, it can be designed and built to encourage social interaction and community engagement.  For example, think of comfortable informal seating areas for students to socialize or student organization offices and work areas for collaboration.

    Our union, as compared to other campuses, has dated architecture that functions well for events and conferences, but lacks adequate informal social space/lounges, student org offices, and the warm-cozy atmosphere typically found in recent union builds and renovations.  We have invested in new furniture in our public spaces, maintained the facility through painting, wayfinding and signage, and introduced digital marketing through flat panel displays around the Union (and rest of campus).  Knowing that we are currently unable to fund a renovation or new student center build,  how can we build community and a sense of belonging despite facility challenges and limitations?  Specifically, how can we leverage our human resources (student and full-time staff) to augment community and belonging?  What specific actions do you expect of your staff (Building Managers and other student employees) while they are on shift?

    Our hope is to evolve the Union from simply an Auxiliary-centric (events & conferences focused) facility, to one that is ALSO dedicated to serving students and their development as well as fostering community for the entire campus.

     Any feedback is greatly appreciated!



    ------------------------------
    Bradley Plesz
    Program Manager for Event Production, University Center and Event Services
    University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
    Colorado Springs CO
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-29-2021 09:32

    I would encourage you to look at the research on the Experience Economy. The experience economy research runs parallel with student engagement theory. Your dining operation should also be a leader in creating opportunities for students to engage and interact. Very hard to do during a pandemic, but just providing opportunities for students to sit together, enjoy a good meal or snack and talk is perhaps the most powerful tool we have. Just some thoughts on Union student engagement.

    Danny

     

    Daniel Armitage

    Associate Vice President, Student Affairs

    Auxiliary Services

    University of North Texas

    (940)565-2033

    daniel.armitage@unt.edu

     






  • 3.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-29-2021 11:06
    Thank you Danny! I will look into that research and connect with our Dining and Hospitality team. I appreciate your reply.

    ------------------------------
    Bradley Plesz
    Program Manager for Event Production, University Center and Event Services
    University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
    Colorado Springs CO
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-30-2021 10:10

    Bradley - I couldn't resist the importance of your question.  It's both the essence of our work, and hard to do in the best of times - let alone right now everywhere.  Forgive me philosophical beginning - place, environment, and physicality matter - they are fundamental to how people engage or disengage.  Even so, I believe the built environment is critical to but alone insufficient to achieve deep community. To overcome inadequate facilities, or the absence of facilities, requires people - indeed, like you and and all in ACUI.  I often think about how some of the most expensive homes in the most beautiful locales lack warmth and feel overly formal; while other homes that might need a little help are full of love, care, and support.  It's the people inside the home that help us know we matter, belong, are noticed.  Community!  I'm no expert at how to do this, but I think doing a hundred little things can send powerful signals that we are a family, despite the condition of our surroundings:  make a big deal about student employee birthdays and milestones... incentivize student programming over administrative use... let the "unusual" happen (an oversized spider crawling up the outside of a building at Halloween, student ROTC repelling off it on Veterans day, etc. - they signal community ownership/agency)... advocate for student/faculty/staff 'informal' interaction initiatives... review policies and decisions through a student-centered lens...  turn as many building decisions over to students as possible... And, I love the dining recommendation already made - work with and ask offices, leaseholders, colleagues in the building to think "transformation" as much as "transaction" - good service (and speed of service) matters, of course, and so does experience/community/belonging. This grows over those hundred little things and in all the spaces, offices, departments, nooks, and crannies.  You are asking all the right questions, and on the right path!  Good luck - and when you are ready, do an ACUI ed session and help all of us with the same challenge!



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    Loren Rullman
    Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
    Grand Valley State University
    Allendale MI
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  • 5.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-30-2021 11:30
    You might want to read an architecture book by Amos Rappaport: The Meaning of the Built Environment.  Also look at the Campus Ecology research done by James Banning at CSU.  (He may be retired now but I think his research center is still active.)  Both these sources talk about how the nature of spaces affect behavior.  I experienced several examples during my career.  In one case, we had a plaza between the union and the building next door.  It was a nice space that had a grove of London Plane trees.  During summers, we held a once a week lunchtime bar-b-que with entertainment there and drew nice crowds.  A spring ice storm destroyed the trees but we had a terrific alumni member who supported campus landscaping who was willing to donate to replace the trees.  We convinced him to fund outdoor furniture and a number of large planters for summer flowers as well.  As we were unloading the furniture and setting it up, students and staff started sitting and socializing.  It was amazing how a nice plaza became an instant gathering place.  In another case, our building had a triangular room with no windows to the exterior but a floor to ceiling glass wall on its longest side looking out into the building's atrium.  The room had tiered carpeted platform seating that faced that glass wall.  From the day the building opened, that space was used by students for quiet study.  The room's acoustics amplified the least noise so even quiet conversations could be overheard.  In addition, the rooms entrances were in front of all the seating so everyone in the room could see anyone who entered.  These examples reinforced for me the power of simple things like acoustics and furniture to influence behaviors.  

    Good luck with your efforts!

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    Robert Rouzer
    Retired
    Gallatin TN
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  • 6.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 04-30-2021 13:23
    "As we were unloading the furniture and setting it up, students and staff started sitting and socializing."

    This happens in so many of our facilities! I've seen it many times over, in indoor lounges, our outdoor patio, dining areas. I used to get frustrated (hey we're not finished yet!) but now I see it as an indication of just how comfortable and at home our students feel in our spaces. 

    In addition to the resources Rob mentioned, do a little digging on Third Space Theory. Essentially, the third space is the place(s) between home and work (for students, this could be class), where people can just be their true self. Libraries, coffee shops, student unions, the quad or plaza on your campus, wherever people gather just to gather, that's a third space. They're vital, and often people may lack these spaces before they get to us. So teaching them how and why to use a third space becomes part of our mission.

    Our staff are constantly reminded that everything we do is to serve a student whose name we may never know. How we plan and execute events, how we take care of the space, how we safeguard against crises, everything happens so that the guest who visits us for whatever their purpose might be, feels safe and at home. It's the same messaging we are using currently when we ask them to wear their masks - we want them to own part of that mission of care and comfort for their fellow guests.


    ------------------------------
    Jeff Pelletier, MA, MBOE, LSSBB
    Ohio Union Director
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, OH
    614-292-3290
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  • 7.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 05-03-2021 15:44
    Thank you ALL!! These are great insights.  I will certainly take these into consideration.  I appreciate your feedback.
     
    Best regards,
     
    Bradley
     
    Bradley Plesz
    Program Manager for Event Production
    University Center and Event Services
    University of Colorado Colorado Springs
    Pronouns: he/him/his
    O: UC 101A | P: (719) 255-3101
     
     
     
     





  • 8.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 05-04-2021 14:54
    Bradley,

    Great insights from Loren, and others. If you have any trouble getting your hands on the work that James Banning did, you could reach out to Zane Reif, the director of the Memorial Union at Purdue as I know Zane referenced his work quite a bit for his doctoral thesis. I had the pleasure of getting to know Zane working with him on the redesign of the union at the University of North Texas. He's a great guy and super approachable!

    Let me know how it goes.. I'm just up the road from you here in Denver!

    Best regards,

    ------------------------------
    Joshua Vel
    Architect, Student Life Practice Leader
    BSA LifeStructures
    Denver CO
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  • 9.  RE: Building Community in the Union Despite Facility Limitations

    Posted 05-05-2021 12:32
    Thank you Joshua!  I'll add it to my list to contact Zane.  I appreciate the recommendation. 
     
    Best regards,
     
    Bradley
     
    Bradley Plesz
    Program Manager for Event Production
    University Center and Event Services
    University of Colorado Colorado Springs
    Pronouns: he/him/his
    O: UC 101A | P: (719) 255-3101