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Natori Cousin
Professor Lynn Raymond
UWRT 1101
8 October 2014
New and Improved Student Union
Student Unions are built to be the center of campus life and activities, and the Student
Union of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is no different. The Student Union offers
a variety of different services, restaurants and ways for students to be involved on campus.
Although, prior to 2009, the Student Union that we know today did not exist.
The Student Unions grand opening was August 24th through 29th of 2009 1(Student
Union Grand Opening). Previously, the Student Union was Cone University Center. Cone
University Center opened in 1962, and housed a much smaller student population. After Cone
Center completed its first addition in 1976, the school population had already grown to 8,290
students. In 1977, the original plan was to renovate Cone and it was soon realized that not even a
renovation would meet campus needs. After many years of Cone being the center of campus for
students, there was a need for a larger student union because by 2001, the student population was
over 18,000 and continuously growing.
The FWA group, which is a North Carolina based firm, partnered with Sasaki
Association to design a new Student Union in 2003. The FWA group and Sasaki Association
completed a sector study to see where the new building should be located and chose Craver
Road. They thought that the new location of the Student Union would be ideal because there

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were residence halls to the north side of it and the College of Health and Human Services and the
College of Education to the south 2(Project Overview Student Union). According to a recent
survey, over ninety percent of the freshman population think that the new Student Union is in a
good location 3(Cousin). There was an additional study sector done and they came up with the
plan to build a new parking deck to the west of the Student Union. Along with the parking deck,
there was going to be the creation of an elevated walkway from the parking deck to the first floor
of the Student Union. There was also going to be another bridge, located to the north of the
Student Union that connected surrounding residence halls. The FWA group and Sasaki
Association completed the design in July 2006 and the grand opening was set to August of 2009.
The Student Union cost around $65 million dollars to complete the three story, 196,000
square foot building. In the Student Union there is a food court that seats 400 people. The food
options include Crown Commons, Bistro 49, Starbucks, Wendys, Mamma Leones, Einstein
Bros Bagels, and Outtakes quick cuisine. In addition to the food places, there is a game room
lounge, and a 210 seat movie theatre that offers free movies to students on the weekends. There
is also an art gallery and piano lounge, meeting rooms, lounges, and an outdoor patio and
seating. The services that the Student Union provide include the information desk, Barnes and
Noble campus bookstore, Niner Tech computer store, reservations office, ID card office, laptop
check out, ATM machines, and the hair salon.
Student involvement is a key component of the Student Union. There are employment
opportunities for students and there are currently over 140 students currently employed. In order
to be employed you must have a 2.0 GPA and a 2.3 for managers, and be in good standing in
school 4(Student Employment). In the Student Union there is the Center for Leadership

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Development, Multicultural Resource Center, student government, student organizations, student
media, Campus Activity Board, and the Student Union Advisory board.
The Student Union Advisory Board was created in January 2009. There are seventeen
members on the board that determine(s) the role of the Student Union in the life on the campus
as well as how the building is operated 5(Student Union Advisory Board). The Student Union
Advisory Board created the mission statement that the Student Union strives to be the active,
safe and inclusive center of campus life 5(Student Union Mission and Values Statements).
The Student Union is most definitely one of the most important buildings on campus for
students. A survey by Cousin proved that over ninety percent of students feel as if the Student
Union offers a safe environment 3(Cousin). The Student Union offers many activities and
opportunities for students to be involved with one another and on campus.

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Works Cited
Cousin, Natori. Student Union Survey of 25 UNC Charlotte students. Conducted 10 October
2014.
Project Overview Student Union. http://studentunion.uncc.edu/projectoverview. 2 April 2009.
Web. Accessed 1 October 2014. (10th floor of library)
Student Employment. Student Union. UNC Charlotte, 2014. Web. 8 October 2014.
Student Union Advisory Board. Student Union. UNC Charlotte, 2014. Web. 8 October 2014.
Student Union Grand Opening Pamphlet. (10th floor of library)
Student Union Mission & Values Statements. Student Union. UNC Charlotte, 2014. Web. 8
October 2014.

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Notes
1. No author. Student Union Grand Opening.
2. Natori Cousin, survey of 25 people, 10 October 2014.
3. Project Overview Student Union, 2009, http://studentunion.uncc.edu/projectoverview.
4. Student Employment Student Union, UNC Charlotte, 2014,
http://studentunion.uncc.edu/employment.
5. Student Union Advisory Board. Student Union. UNC Charlotte, 2014,
http://studentunion.uncc.edu/board.
6. Student Union Mission & Values Statements. Student Union. UNC Charlotte, 2014,
http://studentunion.uncc.edu/mission.