Upper Iowa University opens Student Center, ‘social centerpiece,’ on April 20 as part of $75 million in capital improvements
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The Upper Iowa University Student Center |
FAYETTE, Iowa (April 18, 2011) – The new Student Center on the Upper Iowa University campus is opening for business on Wednesday, April 20.
The Student Center, on the southwest side of campus behind Garbee Hall, is part of Phase I of the University’s $75 million capital improvement project. It is the third campus building to be completed as part of the project, which also included construction of the Victories restaurant building in downtown Fayette.
“The Student Center is the crowning glory of the current construction on campus,” said UIU President Alan G. Walker. “In July of 2004 when I arrived on campus, one of the first things I noted was the lack of a ‘commons,’ an open place where faculty, staff, and students could come together, especially for lunch, to share ideas, build relationships, and reinforce a culture of openness, communication, collegiality, and understanding over the shared human experience of enjoying meals together. UIU has a very positive culture and camaraderie, but the absence of such a venue for ‘cross-pollination’ has been like a hole in the social fabric of our institution. It has long been my goal to build this new facility as the social centerpiece for the University to help strengthen our sense of community.”
The Student Center will also offer exciting opportunities to the public, Walker added, saying “Not only do we look forward to having our neighbors dine with us, but the meeting rooms in the building are available for special events.”
Walker noted that the Student Center’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting festivities will be held Homecoming Weekend September 16-18.
The UIU Student Center houses the Office of Student Development staff; an expanded Peacock Connection, the UIU bookstore (which opens April 25); meeting rooms, a game room, computer desks, and offices for students; the UIU print shop and mail room; and expanded dining services.
The dining services commons, which is open to the public, offers all-you-care-to-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with brick-oven pizza, a grill area, a large salad bar, expanded deli, and other daily specials. A highlight of the food service, which is managed by ARAMARK, is the region’s first, Mongolian grill on a college campus. Diners will be able to create their own stir-fry combinations from a selection of meats, noodles, vegetables and Asian-inspired sauces and watch as their meals are cooked on the large Mongolian grill.
“The Mongolian grill type restaurants have proven very successful in other communities, and we are pleased to offer this type of menu in the Fayette area,” Walker said. “ARAMARK is an excellent partner for UIU’s food service for students, and we believe the community will enjoy dining here or using our catering options.”
Campus dining also includes the “Pete’s Place” snack bar, and a coffee shop. Take-out food is available. For more information about UIU Campus Dining, hours and specials, visit the UIU Campus Dining website at www.uiu.campusdish.com.
A photo gallery on Flickr has followed construction of the Student Center and is available at www.flickr.com/photos/upperiowauniversity/sets/72157625011583664/
For more information about Upper Iowa University, go to www.uiu.edu.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to nearly 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.