UMKC Student Union: A Hub for Student Life and Services
The UMKC Student Union stands as a central pillar of campus life, offering a wide array of services, programs, and spaces designed to support students throughout their college journey. From its modern facilities to its commitment to inclusivity and community, the Student Union plays a vital role in fostering a vibrant and engaging campus environment.
History and Development
With a student body of approximately 14,500 and continuously increasing enrollment, students had outgrown the UMKC University Center. Recognizing the need for a larger, more comprehensive student space, UMKC undertook the project to build a new Student Union. In the mid-2000s, Nick Clark-now a School of Medicine student-noticed this lack of space and worked with other students and the administration to plan a new Student Union. The Student Union project was funded through $1 million in private funds, $500,000 in campus reserves and $36.8 million in revenue bonds. Using the design-build approach, McCownGordon worked with architecture firm Gould Evans to design and build a four-story student union. The new Student Union opened Friday, August 20, 2010. Located near UMKC’s residential halls at 51st and Cherry Streets, the $38.3 million Student Union features a green roof terrace and wide floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Country Club Plaza, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and UMKC’s Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium.
Facilities and Features
The UMKC Student Union offers a diverse range of facilities and features designed to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
- Dining Options: The second floor boasts a variety of dining options, including Chick-fil-a, Baja Fresh, Jazzman’s Café, and a rotating restaurant that changes every month!
- UMKC Bookstore and US Bank: Located on the second floor for convenient access to course materials and banking services.
- Student Involvement Hub: The third floor serves as a hub for student involvement, housing the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) which represents over 300 student organizations on campus, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services (including the Rainbow Lounge), and the Multicultural Student Affairs Office (MSA).
- Rooftop Terrace: The top floor features a rooftop terrace with a community garden, lounge space, and views of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- At Ease Zone: The At Ease Zone and Student Veteran Support Services Office is located in Room 310 of the UMKC Student Union. "The At Ease Zone moving into the Student Union is going to be a great fit for serving our student veterans," said Eric Gormly, assistant director of UMKC Student Veteran Support Services.
- Billiards and Table Tennis: Billiards tables and table tennis are located next to Starbucks on Level 2 of the Student Union. Students can enjoy billiards free of charge during operating hours. Please show your UMKC ID card at the Welcome Desk to check out pool balls, cue sticks, and ball rack, and table tennis accessories.
- Theater: On the first floor, there is a full-size theater that hosts everything from guest lectures and town halls to movie nights and talent shows!
Services and Programs
The Student Union is home to a variety of services and programs designed to support student success and enhance their overall college experience.
- Office of Student Involvement (OSI): Represents over 300 student organizations on campus and supports Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
- LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services: Provides a safe space for all Roos, including the Rainbow Lounge on the third floor.
- Multicultural Student Affairs Office (MSA): Offers a welcoming space for students of all different cultures, including support and mentorship programs for African American and Latinx students, and represents a variety of multicultural student organizations.
- Student Veteran Support Services: Helps military affiliated students thrive on campus and in the community. Last month, Military Times ranked UMKC 70th in the country for being a 'best school' for military veterans, out of 366 colleges and universities reviewed. The At Ease Zone and Student Veteran Support Services Office is now located in Room 310 of the UMKC Student Union.
- Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center: Ensuring no Roo goes without. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Location: Oak St.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The UMKC Student Union values the diversity of all members of its community and strives to provide a welcoming and sustainable “living room” environment for everyone. The presence of the Multicultural Student Affairs Office (MSA) and LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services within the Union underscores this commitment. Advised and supported by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), the African American Student Union (TAASU) is founded to create a sense of belonging and empowerment for African American students.
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Student Employment Opportunities
The UMKC Student Union employs 25 to 30 students each year in a wide variety of part-time positions, offering valuable work experience and the opportunity to become a part of the campus community.
Other UMKC Resources and Support Services
While the Student Union serves as a central hub, UMKC offers a wide range of additional resources and support services to ensure student success:
- Academic Advising: All students new to UMKC are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Depending on your major, students may be required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registering each semester.
- Bloch Career Center: Serves undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni of the Bloch School of Management.
- Campus Recreation: Promotes healthy lifestyles through diverse fitness and wellness opportunities.
- Career Services: Provides students and alumni with coaching, resources, and tools to identify career paths and successfully obtain internships and professional positions.
- Counseling Center: Located at 5100 Oak St.
- Student Health and Wellness: Located at 5100 Oak St.
- Student Accessibility Services: Located at 5100 Oak St.
- Study Abroad and Global Engagement: Supports academic programs and initiatives that are international in focus. Location: 5030 Cherry St. UMKC students have achieved an impressive 50% success rate in applying for Gilman Scholarships, twice the national average of 25%.
- Technology Support Center: Provides support for a variety of computer and account-related technical issues.
- UMKC Central: Where students can take care of admissions, financial aid, and billing, all in one place!
- UMKC Helpline: An informational resource for our campus community.
- University Libraries: Boost student success in academics, research, and campus life. Location: Haag Hall 5120 Rockhill Rd.
- Department of History: Encourages undergraduates to engage in research, either by a short-term independent project or completion of a Senior Thesis. Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research and creative scholarship should consult with their undergraduate faculty member for details before enrolling in HISTORY 499WI or HONORS 495J. The POS should act as a guiding document for both the student and advisor during each academic advising session.
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA): Are designed to provide graduate students with meaningful teaching experience in preparation for a career in education or enhancing their professional degree. GTAs assist faculty in the preparation and teaching of the American History survey courses (HISTORY 101 and HISTORY 102); responsibilities include attending class lectures, teaching smaller breakout or discussion sessions, holding weekly office hours, and grading student performance within their breakout sessions.GTAs receive a stipend and up to nine (9) credit hours of tuition remission per semester in which they have been awarded an assistantship. In order to be considered for a GTA position, prospective students must be admitted into either the Master of Arts in History/Master of Arts in History w/ a Public History Emphasis or the Ph.D. Humanities (History) degree programs. Students awarded a GTA position must be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours per semester - contact the department administrative assistant for regulations regarding exemptions to this rule.
Recent Campus Updates
Construction or relocation, several UMKC buildings have seen updates over the last year. Construction is ongoing at Bloch Heritage Hall, the original home of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Henry W. Construction on the third floor of Miller Nichols Library is underway. The newest editions feature an augmented and virtual reality showroom and lab, a 3D printing lab and a fabrication studio that builds prototypes.
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tags: #UMKC #Student #Union #history #and #services
