The Hammond Campus Center is essentially the living room of the campus. It is home to the library, the Gameroom, the Commuter Café, the bookstore, the Underground Pub, and more. This is the place where students can study, grab a bite to eat, play a free game of ping pong, or lounge with friends. There is always something going on here, whether it’s a Guitar Hero tournament in the Gameroom, acoustic music in the Commuter Café, an open mic night in the Underground, or a community service event in the Ground Floor Lobby. This is the place where connections are made: where new students can meet over a game of pool, where classmates can get together for a study group, or where old friends can congregate for lunch.
The Role of the College Union
The college union, or campus center, is the community center of the college, serving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests. By whatever form or name, a college union is an organization offering a variety of programs, activities, services, and facilities that, when taken together, represent a well-considered plan for the community life of the college.
The union is an integral part of the educational mission of the college.
As the center of the college community life, the union complements the academic experience through an extensive variety of cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs. These programs provide the opportunity to balance course work and free time as cooperative factors in education.
The union is a student-centered organization that values participatory decision-making. Through volunteerism, its boards, committees, and student employment, the union offers first-hand experience in citizenship and educates students in leadership, social responsibility, and values.
In all its processes, the union encourages self-directed activity, giving maximum opportunity for self-realization and for growth in individual social competency and group effectiveness.
The union's goal is the development of persons as well as intellects.
Traditionally considered the "hearthstone" or "living room" of the campus, today's union is the gathering place of the college. The union provides services and conveniences that members of the college community need in their daily lives and creates an environment for getting to know and understand others through formal and informal associations.
The union serves as a unifying force that honors each individual and values diversity. The union fosters a sense of community that cultivates enduring loyalty to the college.
Adopted by the Association's general membership in 1996, this statement is based on the Role of the College Union statement, 1956.
