New Building Provides University's First Student Center: Student fees were important in financing construction
Tyrone Rodriguez, left, Student InterCouncil
president, and Rives Taylor, university architect,
tour the under-construction School of Nursing and
Student Community Center building.
Photo by Ester Fant
For the first time in the history of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, students from all six schools will have gathering spaces built with their needs in mind in the new School of Nursing and Student Community Center.
"The new building will ensure the UT Health Science Center's commitment to the quality of student life and emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary interaction among students," said Tyrone F. Rodriguez, president of the Student InterCouncil and a student at the UT Dental Branch at Houston. "The greatest value available to students during their professional growth is for students to interact with their peers in the health professions. Health care is multidisciplinary, and what an invaluable opportunity to take advantage of this at the new building's student commons and Student InterCouncil offices."
Students from each of the six schools - biomedical sciences, dentistry, health information sciences, medicine, nursing and public health - elect representatives to the Student InterCouncil, which will have an office suite on the ground floor of the nursing building. That floor also contains a 200-seat auditorium and a cafe. Tables in the cafe will have data ports and Internet access, so that students can use them for studying even when food service is closed.
"This building will provide a permanent office and meeting place for institutional and school student governance organizations and will enhance interactions among these groups," said Linda S. Brannon, associate vice president for academic affairs. "It will also provide facilities to hold student events like the Health Care Team competition, Deans' Reception and Salutations (new student orientation)."
More than half the construction cost of the new building - in institutionally financed revenue bonds - was supported by increases in student fees and Auxiliary Enterprises, the student and business services of the university.
"When the students were approached by the administration to participate in paying for this building, they knew that they would not see the building built during their tenure at this institution, but they also recognized that this was important for the future of our School of Nursing and the institution," Brannon said. "Because they saw it as their responsibility to future students, they were willing to make this sacrifice.
"Their commitment not only helped to pay for a portion of the building, but it also provided leverage in the acquisition of revenue financing bonds for construction of the building," she said. "Today, our students should take pride in the role they are playing in providing a permanent home for our nursing students and a much needed gathering place for all students."
With public areas accessible by keycard 24 hours a day, the building was designed to accommodate students' lifestyles. This easy-to-find building on the corner of Bertner Avenue and Holcombe Boulevard will be "the gateway for our educational mission," said Rives Taylor, university architect.
The second floor contains a bookstore; a lounge with tables, chairs, benches and sofas; a photocopy room; a quiet study room; and a lactation room for new mothers. School of Nursing facilities on this floor include student lockers, mailboxes and student advisory offices.
The third and fourth floors house 100-person lecture halls, computer rooms, practice clinics for nursing students and open carrels with a view of Grant Fay Park just outside. The limited-access fifth floor is devoted to research space and teaching labs. The west side of the sixth and seventh floors has smaller classrooms and student areas, while the east side has limited access for faculty offices. The eighth floor houses conference rooms, outdoor decks and the School of Nursing administrative offices.
"Auxiliary Enterprises, in partnership with Academic Affairs, is very involved with all student functions and issues," said Charles A. Figari, vice president and chief auxiliary enterprise officer. "With the Student Center in this building, we look forward to a more cohesive participation in assisting the students to obtain the necessities of their education with minimal interference. At the same time, Auxiliary Enterprises will provide a bookstore, food service, mail service, copy service, quick copy service, limited parking and management of the loading dock."
Rodriguez encouraged all students to enjoy the new building and to visit the Student InterCouncil offices "throughout the upcoming year as new challenges and opportunities will face our dynamic health science center."
By Ina Fried