Transforming the Study Place

Our plan for the ImProve-It initiative is to transform the “Study Place”, located in the University Center, into a central hub of the campus, offering study space, lounging and dining options. The changes will be attractive to all students, especially commuters, as well as faculty and staff. This project will restore an underused and neglected space to its full potential and greatly contribute to promoting a thriving UMBC community. With support, as well as input from various UMBC departments, faculty, students and student groups, we know that our initiative will have far reaching benefits for everyone. Cooperation between all organizations and individuals influenced by the project is the single most important factor of our plan.

Our proposal involves substantial renovations, including the addition of restaurants, and new flooring and lighting. We also intend to replace most of the existing furniture and appliances. We have developed an excellent design and concept, along with an aggressive advertising campaign, that will make our plan an instant success. By effectively engineering a new center of campus, we will draw students out of their dorms, as well as from The Commons, Dining Hall and the Library. The effect will be far less congestion at the scarce studying and dining venues on campus. With the renovations, combined with a superb visual concept, the “Study Place” will be transformed into a revolutionized and modern facility dubbed “The Hub”.

Letter of Support by Diana M. Lee, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education

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Green Space

GreenSpace @ UMBC is group of students that has identified a common interest in creating a new and exciting addition to the UMBC campus. We plan to create a public outdoor space located near the Gallery Entrance of the Fine Arts Building that will become a comfortable, aesthetically appealing place to gather, rest and study for the entire UMBC community.

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Revamping the UMBC Pond

What comes to your mind when you think of the UMBC pond? Our group thought, murky, dirty, smelly (especially on hot days), disgusting, wouldn’t want to fall into, slimy and a turnoff, just to name a few reactions. We would like to change this existing image of the pond because we believe that the pond can become an integral part of the university. Its location is key, directly in between academic row and the library; we could change it from the horrible interruption that it is into a lovely interlude between the two academic centers of our campus.

We intend to revamp the pond’s sanitary and maintenance system, and change the look of the pond and its immediate surroundings. Adding carefully picked flowers and other foliage around the pond that would not only look good but also be easily maintained and otherwise cared for would be a start. We also would like to add natural artistic elements around the pond, such as rock sculptures. We also propose a deck area around the pond would give students a new and different place to sit, take a break, catch up with friends, and study or do some homework outdoors on a pleasant day while maybe enjoying a meal from the Commons. With a more pleasing appearance, smell and general ambience the Pond could become a more pleasant area for the UMBC community to enjoy.

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Student Creative Center

Our proposal is to create a Student Creative Center at UMBC, in order to connect UMBC students from all academic disciplines in being creative, expressive, well rounded students. Have you ever noticed how so many students at UMBC are interested in areas outside of their major? Why else would there be so many active student organizations and such a great involvement in student life? Research has shown that we grow more as students (and people!) from interaction with our peers than we ever do in the classroom.

Our vision is for a space where students can go and have access to the tools they need to make their creative ideas blossom. The fine arts building and engineering buildings may contain some of these tools, but access is generally restricted to students using the tools for a class. Nancy Young pointed out to us that many engineering projects are prohibited within residence halls. Where can a UMBC student go and learn how to fix and maintain their bicycle? Build a kinetic sculpture? Make bio-diesel? Become engaged in creative projects, not because they are required to, but because they have the vision and passion to? A Student Creative Center would allow students to have access to the resources they need to pursue these endeavors and it would connect students from different campus areas and allow them to learn and grow from one another.

Ropes and Challenge Course

We are very excited to submit this proposal for a Ropes and Challenge Course, as we believe there is a lot a Challenge Course has to offer UMBC. There is always a lot of energy surrounding the idea and concepts of activities that occur through participation of Challenge Courses and also the benefits that come with them. We would like to utilize the area just north of Harbor Hall (across the loop) and east of the dam for an increased recreational area with the construction and implementation of a Ropes and Challenge Course. These courses are well known for team-building and leadership training for people of all ages, and could benefit the UMBC community in many ways. Students, faculty/staff, scholars, commuters, and many more populations would be able to go through a very beneficial experiential learning experience.