I know a number of the EMU faithful on this board are no longer living in SE Michigan and wouldn't have heard the announcement that Eastern got the "go ahead" from the Michigan Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee to begin construction of a new student center. This will replace McKenny Union which will be remodeled into administrative offices. The new student center will be located where Pinegrove apartments are now.

<a href='http://www.emich.edu/admissions/tour/locator.html' target='_blank'>EMU Interactive Campus Map</a>

I haven't seen any plans of the new building as yet. Complete new announcement follows:

<a href='http://www.emich.edu/univcomm/releases/040104studentcenter.html' target='_blank'>EMU Press Release</a>

Congrats to EMU... that oughta be a nice facility.

There is a wave of new student center construction going on at colleges across the country. The reason? Most of the old student union facilities were built in the 50s or 60s, and are now far outdated in terms of amenities that students expect. There was a survey that came out last year (I think it was in the Chronicle of Higher Ed) where students ranked student centers/union facilities as one of the ten most important factors when choosing a college. That certainly is a new development...

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:There was a survey that came out last year (I think it was in the Chronicle of Higher Ed) where students ranked student centers/union facilities as one of the ten most important factors when choosing a college. That certainly is a new development...

I can see it being in the Top 10. What I can't see is it being voted "#1" often enough to be in that sort of Top 10.

You got me thinking, so I'd make a list something like:

1. Academic reputation
2. Academic rigor (alas, perception is reality)
3. Strength of department of chosen major.
4. Affordability/Financial aid
5a. Location- Getting to and fro while enrolled.
5b. Location- Potential jobs after graduation
7. Quality of library.
8. Quality of females. (Ok, seriously this is like #5)
9. Recreation and leisure which would include Student Union, sports, rec facilities, quality of females...
10. School colors. (Hmm, blue and gold? cliche. Green and white? commonplace. Something solid, original and noble- brown and orange, baybee!)

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:Congrats to EMU... that oughta be a nice facility.

There is a wave of new student center construction going on at colleges across the country. The reason? Most of the old student union facilities were built in the 50s or 60s, and are now far outdated in terms of amenities that students expect. There was a survey that came out last year (I think it was in the Chronicle of Higher Ed) where students ranked student centers/union facilities as one of the ten most important factors when choosing a college. That certainly is a new development...

McKenny Union was built in the 1930s. It's serviceable as a student union but it is much more of an office building than a gathering center. EMU has just shy of 25,000 students now and a new place to have lunch and to touch base with friends is sorely needed on campus.

DrTorch Wrote:

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:There was a survey that came out last year (I think it was in the Chronicle of Higher Ed) where students ranked student centers/union facilities as one of the ten most important factors when choosing a college. That certainly is a new development...

I can see it being in the Top 10. What I can't see is it being voted "#1" often enough to be in that sort of Top 10.

You got me thinking, so I'd make a list something like:

1. Academic reputation
2. Academic rigor (alas, perception is reality)
3. Strength of department of chosen major.
4. Affordability/Financial aid
5a. Location- Getting to and fro while enrolled.
5b. Location- Potential jobs after graduation
7. Quality of library.
8. Quality of females. (Ok, seriously this is like #5)
9. Recreation and leisure which would include Student Union, sports, rec facilities, quality of females...
10. School colors. (Hmm, blue and gold? cliche. Green and white? commonplace. Something solid, original and noble- brown and orange, baybee!)

As far as Item#8 (which should be 5 ) the female/male ratio at EMU is 3:2.

Very insightful, DrTorch, especially on such quick notice.

Could you enlighten us further by expanding (in words only) on the Quality of Females?

Quote:EMU has just shy of 25,000 students now

Sheesh. You'd think that, out of that many people, they could find 11 to play a decent game of football. :ducking:

OT but the quality of women, I hear, is going down this fall at EMU but the FB team will be much improved.

Sometimes life is a series of tradeoffs.

Saturday afternoons will definitely be better this fall in Ypsi.