Peeling tiles, faded parking signs and dust webs in corners — it’s clear to some University of Idaho administrators that the Student Union Building may not leave the best impression on a prospective student.
The waning conditions resulted in a list of recommendations presented at Tuesday’s faculty senate meeting aimed to create a more welcoming environment around the SUB Enrollment Center, said Brian Johnson, assistant vice president of Facilities.
UI Facilities will begin to implement a series of projects over the next year around the SUB parking lot, and the north side entrance and lounge area.
The planned recommendations range from adding welcome mats to entrances to renovating the now-vacant area next to the enrollment office, which used to be Joe’s Cafe.
Johnson said UI administrators focused on the enrollment office for upgrades because it’s where perspective students meet for campus tours.
“Looking with a new pair of eyes, what are our visitors seeing,” he said, presenting a plan overview to senate members.
Significant renovations include turning the vacant space that previously housed Joe’s Cafe into a “home-like receiving and reception space,” with “lodge-like furnishings.”
The space will be connected to the adjacent Enrollment Office through doors to create a simple and welcoming experience, Johnson said.
The renovation of the vacant space will not begin until summer of 2015, according to the presentation.
He said the SUB parking lot would also receive a new concrete surface in the spring or early summer to better the appearance of the SUB.
Other recommendations focused on the detailed parts of a visitor’s experience, including the removal of faded parking signs and the addition of new floor mats.
With a new focus on enrollment, Johnson said UI administrators have focused on the appearance of campus, and the impression it leaves on visiting students.
Cezar Mesquita, director of admissions, said revamping the SUB entrance is in line with the efforts of the admissions office to improve the overall experience for perspective students.
“It is part of a broader improvement of the overall visit experience,” Mesquita said, answering questions from faculty senate members.
He said his department is revamping multiple parts of the visit experience, including how tour guides interact and connect with perspective students and their families.
Mesquita said a little less than 70 percent of the students who visit campus choose to attend UI. He hopes to see the percentage rise with the new campus experience the recommendations offer.
“A lot of room for improvement, there’s no question about that,” he said.
As part of these efforts, Mesquita said his office is concentrating on getting students to complete the entire application process so his department can make a timely decision on the applicant.
“A large number of our applicants don’t necessarily complete their applications,” he said.
Mesquita said his department often contacts the perspective student, their parents and school counselor to encourage the student to finish the application.
When it comes to using university resources, not all senate members agreed that renovations are the most valuable way to spend funds.
“It’s just that doesn’t seem to be where the biggest problem is,” said Donald Crowley, senate secretary.
James Foster, a UI biology professor, said getting more students to stay on campus is the key to increasing the conversion rate of students.
“It’s a small, intimate campus, on a beautiful setting,” he said. “So the more people who visit, the more people will like it.”
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]