Hey all,

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A few concerns:

It would make more sense to have Chick-fil-A and Starbucks cover the construction and renovation costs (just as Sodexho did for the Dining Hall and Commons), rather than spending Student Activity Fee money on those startup costs.

With the dining services contract bidding going on, will it be too little, too late to offer these options without requiring huge changes to the new contract? The contracts usually include restrictions on other vendors.

What are the chances of having Chick-fil-A or Starbucks want to do this? I didn’t see any letters of intent or support in the proposal.

What happens to the studying aspect of the STUDY place? It seems like this is an attempt to move the functions of the Commons back to the UC. Our Commons is well above par for a student union.

Hi James,

We are actually already planning on having a meeting with Tim Tenon tomorrow (Wednesday) from dining services to see if it would be possible to have them cover some more of the construction costs (e.g. the floor). This way we will be able to transfer some of the money to other parts of the project, such as the study space and materials.

I believe the costs will be covered by Sodexho and there should not be any issue with it interfering with their recontracting proposal.

It is impossible for us to compete with the commons in such a limited space. The Commons is a fantastic facility. However as a result it is often overcrowded, especially during peak hours. Our plan would simply relieve some of the congestion that you get there so you no longer have to wait half an hour to get your food, eat quickly and then run off to class. Our plan will also benefit student organizations that hold events in the UC Ballroom or other meeting rooms. They will have a place to get food that is readily available.

As far as the letters of intent, the reason you did not see any was because the SGA mistakenly omitted them from our proposal that they posted above. We have statements from various people including Tim Tenon saying that they are committed to the project. I have listed the individuals that wrote us letters and who we have consulted with on our website. We have not worked directly with Chick-fil-A or Starbucks. Those talks have been through dining services. However, the impression that we have gotten is that they are both very enthusiastic about being on campus and are quite willing to work with us on the project.

It is very important for people to realize that the studying aspect will not be lost. In fact we plan to strengthen that aspect. We plan to have more study space available than what is depicted in the concept art provided by dining services. We also have been talking with dining services about possibly building a 2nd story loft in the study place in order to provide more space.

If you have any more questions or concerns feel free to post. Thanks for your questions.

Ian

Even if the congestion from the restaurants is not as bad as the Commons, won't this atmosphere still interfere with the studying aspect, as James said?

Obviously it will have some effect but we have a plan to make it minimal. First of all, we are planning to have specific quiet hours devoted to studying. These will be determined by statistics that we have about who is there when, as well as student feedback. Also, we will try to have the space open 24/7. Most likely the dining options will not be open 24/7, so there will be no noise during these times. Also, as I have mentioned before we hope to encourage people to eat outside by improving the outdoor area, thus reducing the noise level inside.

If that doesn't answer your question I will try to clarify it better.

How would the studying space be improved? What is the dining services art you mention? Why is Sodexho willing to spend thousands on a new floor versus other improvements to existing facilities?

This sounds like you're trying to create a mini-Commons. Besides peak lunch hours (~2 hours a day), the Commons is never straining at its size. Without the current interest of outside companies and restaurants I'm hesitant about this plan.

If it's open 24/7 will it be limited by swipe-card access to students? Video cameras just in case of criminal activity?

Have you mapped out the sizes of the restaurants, tables, food equipment, computers, etc. will take up? Would there be issues with food and drinks nearby computers, because they are so close.

It feels like the Study Space is too small to be a study space AND a mini-Commons. It also doesn't feel like the Hub would change the campus significantly.

Hey Mike,

This may be a rather long post, but I want to make sure I address your questions thoroughly.

First, if you look at our pictures of the study place now, you will see that the furniture is all used/second hand. We would replace it. There are some computers but they are also old. There are few other resources for people to use. For example, we hope to spend money to purchasing textbooks as well as other supplies for the students to use. Currently there is no printer, and we have set aside money for that also. We have been provided a list of recommendations from students that currently use the study place. Some of their wants include:

-More outlets (spread out throughout the room)
-Printers (usually people come in expecting to use a printer)
-Café (great addition for a studying area)
-No more sign-in sheets (tedious after a while)
-Better hours (Extended hours of operation)
-Eating utensils (next to the microwave)
-Vending Machines that take Campus Card (people don’t carry cash)
-More Computers (tends to get full during busy hours such as free hour)
-Better (faster) Computers
-Better Lighting (gets dim if not all of the lights are on, which can’t be controlled in the actual room)
-Better Temperature Control (Heating during winter. Heater sometimes not strong enough)
-Turn off fans (during the winter time)
-Entrances directly from outside (being able to use emergency exits)
-Make workers available 24/7 (need dry erase markers/supplies/questions/something isn’t working)

We intend to address all of these issues (except maybe the vending machines). Unfortunately I am not allowed to go into detail about Dining Service's plans due to the recontracting process, however so you know, the study place is not the only location they plan to work on. They are relying on student feedback to determine what would be most popular to have implemented and where. We do have interest from outside companies and restaurants who want to come on campus. We have a letter of commitment from Dining Services to work with us on our plan to bring in national chains.

I find The Commons to be fairly crowded during all meal times, in the morning, afternoon and at night when there is usually only one place open. Our plan would simply help relieve this. Our plan also gives more options. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that the main purpose of our plan is not to relieve The Commons but to enhance the Study Place. That is simply one of the many benefits.

In terms of security, we are planning to have cameras and are considering adding swipe card access.

For the space, we have spent a lot of time going through it, mapping it out and looking at renderings from Dining Services. We believe that there will be plenty of space to accommodate everything. Also just to clarify, there is already a kitchen located behind the back wall (the space used to be a cafeteria). Therefore the actual restaurants will take up little of the current floor space.

In response to the risk of food near the computers...what is worse, a damaged keyboard or severed hand from a table saw?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Since Sodexho is just one of the companies bidding for the new food contract, what happens if another vendor wins without any intent to use this space or bring in outside companies like Chick-fil-A or Starbucks?

The Prove-It selection process is over before we know the food vendor.

This will not be worth it if it is not open on Saturdays. The campus really needs a coffee-shop/hangout that is open on the weekends.

We have not discussed details about having food venues open on the weekend. I would imagine it would be possible if there is enough student support.

This is my second favorite idea, I use the study space every week as it is. I would love it to be open 24 hours, with a printer, and more outlets. I couldn't care less about food or coffee. I think we would be better served by offering a coffee maker, water and single serve packets of coffee in the vending machines. I agree about the temperature, it is unreasonably cold in the winter.

I worry that the addition of food will make it a loud crowded place, and not a study friendly space. Though it does make sense to make use of that kitchen space. I think these food servce contracts are really out of hand when we can't have students bring their own food to events. (not really super related but all the same). I guess I like the idea of opening up the kitchen in there for student orgs to use to make food for their own events.

This is my second favorite idea. I prefer the student creative center, becuase it offers both a little bit of space to study and place to work on creative projects which are too messy or noisy for the study space. I would love to see the study space improved, but the creative center meets a campus wide need not currently filled.

I think this is the best out of all of them. It's a practical idea and it brings some life to academic row.

I think it would be great to have a Starbucks/Chick-Fil-A put in. Plus, with the study zone initiative, it will serve a dual purpose. Just my opinion.

As for the hours of operation, I think even what has been established is fine. You have to take into the consideration to whom you are catering. So yeah, not being open on Saturday sucks but I mean when you're in a rush between classes and haven't had breakfast on a Thursday morning...isn't that better than nothing at all? I'm just saying...

Like I said, i think you did a great job with this transformation of the study space guys.

The studying areas would be open 24/7. However, we cannot guarantee that the dining options would be. This is something that would be negotiated with dining services.

I think this is a great idea. The study place could really benefit from revamping - making it the place it really could be. Also adding a place with national chains in it would be great for UMBC image. By putting them here we show that we can attract support from known companies - by not having such places when many other colleges do its like we are saying we're too small for anyone to care. Helping UMBC's image is a wonderful idea. Also making a new place for students to hang out and go to will make the campus feel more home-ish and hopefully keep students on campus.

Some new developments that we have discussed with Dining Services are

1. Having dining open on Saturdays and maybe even Sunday.
2. Have a percentage of the profit from the food vendors go towards sustaining the study place. Approximately $200per month would go towards supplies.

These are two new and real possibilities for the space.

I LOVE this idea. Only good thing about it are the nice couches. thats gotta be changed

I think this proposal misleads the average student into believing that if it wins Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will be coming to campus. Too much up in the air to be the winner for me

We are in no way trying to mislead anyone on campus. The people that we have spoken to from Dining Services have informed us that these national food chains are very interested in coming here and they have already drawn up plans to do so. While it is not guaranteed that they will be here, we believe that it is highly likely. If you read our proposal you will see that we have already addressed this issue. If Sodexho is not selected to remain here next semester we do plan to work with the new dining service company. With student support and support from outside food companies, we believe that our plan will go through anyway. If that somehow falls through, then we still will be able to continue with our plan, adding better and more lounging options as well as better resources for studying. This is our main focus anyway.

not to rain on your parade but we have
~the library
~the commons
~the study space on the second floor of the commons (you can bring your food there by the way)
~study rooms in dorm halls
~study rooms in the library
~AND the UC to study

All of which have outlets. I really think that people choose not to study in the UC because we have TONS of other choices. it doesn't necessarily have to do with dinning. I believe that changing this will make it more of a hang-out spot rather than a peaceful study area, which defeats your whole purpose. Yeah, furniture needs replacement but it doesn't take $50,000 to do that.

i like the tangible plans that you have and the specific direction (though I disagree with the furniture idea since i think the furniture is great there ... unless you mean the computer chairs), but of all facets of campus life I think the study place needs the least amount of work.

the food idea of hot meals, etc, could be nice, making it a lunch place! but that's also more turning it into a lounge, not a study place.

though this idea has validity, and i think would make the study zone much more frequented, i do not support it for many reasons.

- it will turn the study zone from a study zone to a mini-commons (food options as suggested with chik-fil-a) with new furniture (I'm personally a fan of the furniture currently there ... except for the computer desk chairs), etc.

- the new "lounge" feel it will get will be distracting to the people studying. now, i completely agree that the study zone should not be quiet like the library, but i feel that any discussions and noise should be groups on the white boards.

- there are many areas of the campus that need work other than the study place.

now, possible modifications to this idea would be extended hours (i've been kicked out of the study place when i sneaked in at 3am), having a second The Spot (is there one already?), a friggin cool paint job ...

@ThuMM

Thanks for all of your suggestions. We have already addressed some of them in our proposal (available above). I would like to touch on a few points though. We are not trying to turn the study place into a "mini-commons." Our goal is to provide an additional space for students to get something to eat (during heavy dining periods) and to accommodate members of the campus that would like to study (during peak study hours). We are also working to make the study place available to students 24/7. This will help alleviate some of the congestion seen in the library atrium during the late hours. We understand that there are many other study options on campus, but feel that all students, especially commuters, will appreciate an additional location during later hours. With regards to the furniture, we would like to provide seating that will not only be comfortable but sturdy. The current furniture is a mixture of donated items from years past. Our hope is that updated furniture, supplies, and food options will allow all members of our campus community to fully enjoy the possibilities that the study place has to offer.

One comment concerns me. As a student who worked in the study place it is not reasonable to ask a student worker to be available 24/7 may I suggest set hours to address complaints or concerns.

I agree. I don't think we ever thought it would be possible to keep a staff member there 24/7. Probably they would have similar hours to what they do now. For the hours when there is no desk staff, then we would probably have swipe access.

I am very concerned that this proposal will detract from the quiet, academic atmosphere of the study place, as I can see that many other students are. Bringing food options, especially such major chains as Chick fil a and Starbucks, will bring many students to the study place that are not there to study. And it is not reasonable to expect or require students getting lunch or dinner or a coffee to stay quiet while enjoying their food, probably with other friends. I agree with previous posts that these food options would change the study place to a sort of mini commons. While I love Chick fil a and Starbucks, and I would greatly enjoy having them on campus, I do not want them in my study place. I just don't think that's where they belong. And as far as all of the extra features that will improve the study aspect of the study place (such as outlets and printers), I fully support the addition of these, however how will they help if students are not able to study in the study place anyway because of the noise and amount of people there to eat?

As I have said before, obviously we do not expect the space to be pristinely quiet during meal times. While it will be more crowded and there will be more people, we believe that our plan will create a good balance and something for everyone. Dining will not be open 24/7 so those times when it is not will naturally be quiet. Having more seating outside will help reduce the noise inside. What ever floor layout we use, we will keep the dining and studying areas as far from each other as possible. In addition, we are investigating the possibility of adding a loft area. If we were to do this, we could further separate these areas from each other. Another thing to keep in mind is that the "Study Place" is not permanent. I don't know of any other plans to use the space, but the Study Place could easily be moved out or removed completely. Our plan would make the Study Place a permanent location for students and staff to meet.

Our plan is an excellent compromise between everyone, because it appeals to everyone; study groups looking for a place to meet, students looking for a quick bite to eat, staff looking for alternatives to the cafe in the administration building (which does not have good hours), visitors to the campus for various events and prospective students who will certainly see it and be interested, instead of the dark, mysterious and uninteresting building that is there now.

Many people have referred to our plan as a mini commons. Even if that were what we are proposing, what is so bad about the commons? The commons is very popular. If you are going to compare our idea to the commons, think smaller, fewer people, much less noise, fewer dining options and more studying.