UHCL must expand offerings to accommodate growth

In case you missed the memo, the UHCL has undergone a major transformation. The university officially shifted from being a two-year, upper-level institute and expanded into a full-fledged, four-year collegiate establishment in fall 2014.

Junior and senior students suddenly found themselves amalgamated with freshmen and sophomore students. While change is often hard to adjust to, it is a fundamental part of growing.

However, with change comes obligation. As cliché as it may sound, it’s true. Now that UHCL has opened its doors to new, exciting opportunities and more students, there is another a responsibility that UHCL must bear. Now it needs to cater to a wider student base.

Inbound students will expect more out of their university and before long they will make their voices heard. Even though their voices may sound like whispers at first, gradually they will grow into a shout.

So what exactly is our university missing from its orientation brochure? Below are four key additions that UHCL should make to help improve campus life:

Athletic Programs (Competitive Sports)

• College pride is huge for students. Nothing develops that pride more than competitive collegiate sports. Rooting for a team that you truly share an affiliation with can help increase admiration for your school’s culture and spirit.
• Competitive sport programs should be seen as a gateway into advancing school notoriety and student pride. Intramural sports are also a great way to help students remain active and engaged with college events. These options reinforce the belief that the university is interested in maintaining happy, healthy learners.

Living Accommodations (Dorms, Meal Plans)

• With downward expansion, students are less likely to be commuting to and from campus each day. Now, more than ever, UHCL must accept that living accommodations are a necessary part of a college campus. Freshmen students are often fresh (pun intended) out of high school, and they expect some form of lodging if they are going to enroll at a four-year university. In addition, when students begin living on campus they should have meal plan options, which allow students a variety of food choices through a variety of payment methods. Plans need to be in place to accomodate students who might need to prepay for their meals with tuition payments, or who might need to ask family members to help purchase their food. Better eating options, including healthier food choices and more overall variety, in addition to being a necessity for students using a meal plan, would also allow students the ability to stay on campus and eat, versus venturing off campus to satisfy their appetite.

Performing Arts (Theater, Dance)

• Students love expressing themselves. Performing arts provide students with the perfect vehicle to do so. Theater, dance, music and other assorted activities, all fall under the umbrella of performing arts, allowing viewers the chance to bond while watching student-run performances. It also offers another venue for students to pursue their unique interests and/or extracurricular activities.
• Performing arts, much like sports, brings students closer together, helping them to relax from the constant barrage of studying and keeping the door open for students who wish to pursue careers in this field.

Central Hub (Student Center)

• Students never like to feel isolated. Homework can tend to be overwhelming at times, and it is always comforting to be able to hang out with friends to help reduce stress levels. Universities have figured out that it is important to provide students with a public location that offers essential student amenities; a place that is separate from student classrooms and faculty offices, to avoid worrying about loud noises causing disruption.
• For example, a location on campus that has comfortable furniture, a game room and a reputable coffee vendor would definitely help to improve campus life, encouraging students to stay on campus to have fun and relax instead of rushing to their cars as soon as classes are done.

University administrators have already begun exploring expansion possibilities, however, the students should also have a voice in these expansions. If students want to see changes made that will help improve campus life, it’s up to us to do something about it. Start by sharing your thoughts in the “Comments” section below.