PHOTO: Screenshot depicts map of UHCL, displaying intended buildings as part of UHCL's Master Plan. The Master Plan shows specific plans for UHCL's Student Center. The location is pictured above, with the center being called, "The Campus Center." Image courtesy of Master Plan Committee, Executive Steering Committee and Consultant Team. — The Master Plan shows specific plans for UHCL's Student Center. The location is pictured above, with the center being called, "The Campus Center." Image courtesy of Master Plan Committee, Executive Steering Committee and Consultant Team.

BRIEF: University administration plans for student center

By Troylon Griffin II, Editor-in-Chief Last updated Mar 21, 2022 475 0

UHCL administrators recently proclaimed that work on the creation of an official student center for the university is set to begin. Interim President Richard Walker spoke about the development of the student center at the Feb. 22 SGA meeting and Presidential Luncheon.

“This is one of those projects that takes time,” Walker said. “The student center project will take several years. There will be a student referendum, we’ll have to go to the Board of Regents, we’ll have to go to the state legislature. So it will be a process but I am very supportive of creating a true student center for UHCL. It will enhance student life greatly and create that opportunity for students to be engaged on campus.”

Vice President of Student Affairs Aaron Hart addressed the topic of a student center at the Feb. 15 SGA meeting.

“Basically we started having some initial conversations,” Hart said. “Those conversations are moving slow but they’re gonna happen. We just have to make sure we have the student referendum happen. I want to go back to what Dr. Walker said and that is having patience. It is a few years down the line.”

Hart said his goal is to take a group of students on trips to multiple college campuses and see their respective student centers as inspiration for the development of UHCL’s student center.

“I think it would be a great idea if we do that when the time is right,” Hart said. “When we get to that point and the referendum is approved. The most important thing is that students will have a voice in this happening. It’s called a student referendum and so it cannot happen without the students.”

The student center is one of many buildings part of UHCL’s master plan. The center is part of phase one of the plan along with buildings such as the residential hall. Since the implementation of the master plan, UHCL constructed buildings such as the Recreation & Wellness Center and STEM building.

In an Aug. 2021 email, Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement Yvonne Hernandez-Friedman said the work on the student center is going to start soon. Hernandez-Friedman gave an update on the center’s development.

“We will be beginning the “programming phase” of the student center project with input from students, staff and faculty,” Hernandez-Friedman said. “It will be a small group to start the programming phase and then we will be branching out to get broad feedback from the entire university community. The programming phase is designed to make sure this facility is meeting the needs of the entire community.”

Hernandez-Friedman said the programming phase will take a year to complete. Throughout this time, research will be done on cost and proposals will happen in late 2023.

“One thing I can promise and guarantee is that this project will have students involved,” Hart said. “This is a student-led project.”