Future Feasibility
The Carolina Union Board of Directors sets their eyes on tomorrow.
Assessing Student Needs
On Wednesday, August 31, the student-comprised Carolina Union Board of Directors and Raleigh-based VINES Architecture reconvened after the summer for their first meeting of the school year. Lead by Board Chair, Boateng Kubi, the meeting focused on this semester’s upcoming #UNCUnionIdeas Study; an initiative approved by last year’s Board.
The study is designed to assess the needs of the UNC student body along with the ability of the Carolina Union’s current facilities to meet those needs. With this information, it will identify potential areas of improvement for the future.
The Carolina Union Board of Directors learns about the #UNCUnionIdeas Study from VINES Architecture.
The study has multiple phases, and is currently in the process of information gathering with the student body and Carolina Union staff. The Board is spearheading the effort, along with the help of VINES Architecture to capture the needs of the UNC student population first-hand.
Learning from Our Peers
This summer, Boateng, along with fellow students, visited several top flight student unions at universities across the country, including Texas A&M; the University of Houston; and the University of California, Berkeley. These trips helped to draw inspiration from peer institutions and envision our Union’s potential.
Heels Have a Voice
Now that the fall semester has arrived, the Board needs the help of students to shape the Union’s future - there will be ample opportunities to voice suggestions through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and social media. The #UNCUnionIdeas Survey running from September 6-16 has been delivered to student email accounts. This is a quick and easy outlet for students to express their needs and opinions. Plus, prizes will be given away every day for taking the survey!
Student responses are invaluable to ensuring the study captures the real needs of the Carolina community. They will also help the Carolina Union continue to uphold its mission. The Union and the Board will be in regular communication with students throughout the semester with regards to engagement opportunities and findings from the study.
What's Next?
Following the completion of the study at the end of the fall semester, VINES will provide a report comprised of detailed findings from the study. This report will contain a program of potential spaces to include in a future Union, and a building concept based on those spaces; both based on student feedback. Upon its completion, the results of the study will be made available to the student body by the Carolina Union Board of Directors.
Because the future of the Union will be shaped directly by the vision and ideas of students, students are encouraged to continuously provide their input to the study through the survey, and participate in the many other engagement opportunities this fall. You can also use the hashtag #UNCUnionIdeas on Twitter to share your thoughts with @CarolinaUnion at any time.
Think big, and boldly share all of your exciting ideas with us. This is your opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at the University of North Carolina, and tremendously elevate the student life of Tar Heels for many years to come.