University Union Operations

What is the program’s mission statement or statement of purpose? Why does the program exist?

The Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union wil strive to provide services and programs in response to students' physical, social, recreational and educational needs.  The Union also seeks to serve the campus and community by providing a center for meetings, conferences, banquets and camps.

To serve as a gathering place to meet the physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs of its users.

How does the program mission align with the university mission?

The Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union provides physical, social recreational and educational opportunities for further development to become responsible citizens and leaders.

Whom does the program serve?

The Union serves students, faculty, staff and community users.

What are the services provided? How do these services align with the university mission and program mission?

The Union provides venues, recreation, retail operations and social gathering facilities. 

All the services combined contribute to the social, educational, emotional and professional leadership to develop responsible citizens.

Describe the program’s origins (e.g. year established, purpose, expectations).

The first phase of the MLK, Jr. University Union was built in 1958 to provide meeting, eating, shopping, recreation area, office space and gathering facility.  Phase two was built in 1967 and provided bowling lanes, snack bar, cafeteria, additional meeting rooms and offices.  The third phase of the Union was in 1974 and included a ballroom, basement dining area, bookstore, more meeting rooms, office space, banking facility and lounges.  In 2002, the Union was expanded to include a Food Court to the facility.

The purpose of the facility is the social crossroads of the campus.

How has the unit changed or adapted over time?

The Union has adapted to meet the needs of its users.  Through the years we have implemented technology, added a hair salon, updated the facility and operations to meet the changing needs of the students.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program’s history and relevance to university mission.

Provide data, if available, on the numbers of students, faculty, staff, or others served by the program during the past four years. If no data are available, please estimate the numbers served annually.

Year   2010           313,963

Year   2011           308,329

Year   2012           402,459

Does the program offer any co-curricular opportunities for students (e.g., internships, RSO support, service-learning activities)? Please describe.

The Union has graduate assistants, interns, service-learning opportunities, provide space for RSO's and other users, colloborate with various campus organizations and community members.

Does the program contribute to the delivery of academic programs (e.g., providing professional expertise, serving as adjunct faculty)? Please describe.

We provide the means and venues for our faculty and students to obtain their educational goals through conferences and symposiums.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the internal demand for the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., curriculum changes made by another program) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Is the program accredited or approved by a recognized external agency or otherwise certified to meet established professional standards? Provide an executive summary of and link to the program’s most recent accreditation or certification report, if available.

N/A

Is the program required to meet any regulatory or legal requirements? Is the program subject to any special auditing requirements?

N/A

What are the most important outreach or public service activities supported by the program?

N/A

How do the local community and the region benefit from the program?

N/A

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the external demand for the program.

What are the two or three more important measureable outcomes tracked to assess program quality? Does the program conduct an outcomes assessment, and if so, what has been the impact?

The Union measures large event attendees, Family Weekend participants and daily user feedback.

We send out surveys to users of large events, to parents who attended Family Weekend and the comments received from daily users of our facility.  We strive to improve from the comments we receive.

What are the two or three most effective best practices that the program has implemented? What benefits have been gained from implementing these best practices?

Technology, customer service and accesibility.

Technology improved customer satisfaction and increased building usage.  Customer service has also increased overall to enrich students and all users experiences at the Union.

We have implemented safety measures to meet ever changing standards.

What external recognitions (e.g., awards, accommodations, professional certifications, references in trade publications) have the program and its staff received in the past three years?

Numerous letters of appreciation from our users.

Is the program active with any regional, national, or international professional organizations?

Assoication of College Unions International

National Assocation of College Stores

National Assoication of College Auxiliary Services

Note any presentations, publications, or offices held in the last three years.

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the quality of program outcomes.

Note any special benefits (e.g., personnel support, equipment, permanent improvements) that the program has received in the past three years from its grants and other sponsored programs.

n/a

How does the program benefit from donor gifts (e.g., scholarships, endowed chairs)? Does donor support provide a significant percentage of the program’s overall funding?

The Union has an insignificant gift account.

No.

List two or three key relationships that the program maintains with external constituencies (e.g., community colleges, other universities, government bodies). How do these relationships advance the university mission or otherwise benefit the university?

N/A

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the resources generated by the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., revenue pass-throughs) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Provide an executive summary of and link to any metrics or benchmarks that the program tracks to measure productivity.

The Martin Luther King Jr. University Union provides meeting and conference rooms for student organizations, student events, university departments, and non-university groups/events.  Student organizations and student events receive first priority with scheduling.

Note:  In addition to scheduling within the University Union, the Scheduling Office is responsible for all non-academic scheduling on campus with the exceptions of The Doudna and Tarble Arts Center.

This link examines the productivity of the scheduling service in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union:  http://www.eiu.edu/union/Staff3.php

What initiatives has the program implemented to enhance staff productivity (e.g., access to training, workflow improvements)? Briefly describe the costs and benefits of these initiatives.

The Union staff has access to on-campus training seminars, staff development and diversity training and conference participatation has needed.

We work with the University to provide no-cost, educational training which is a benefit to the University and our staff.  Conferences are attended on an as needed basis within budget constraints.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the productivity of the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements, curricular changes, program restructuring) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the costs associated with the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., expenditures made centrally or externally, expenditures made on behalf of other units) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

How does the program seek to distinguish itself from similar programs at other institutions?

The Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union strives to keep all costs to its users to a minimum.  We ulitize our staff efficiently while maintaining a high level of service.

Note any unique and/or essential contributions that the program makes to the university.

The Union provides services that are unique and essential to the University.  We provide a social atmosphere,  recreational facilities, retail operations, meeting facilities, venue for student programming events and many more opportunities which makes us the crossroads of the campus.

Provide any program-specific metrics that help to document program contributions or program quality. Examples of some commonly used program-specific metrics may be found here.

These are two measurements of university mission impact and program quality.

  Evening and weekend Union study lounge usage  (Note:  Week day usage is much greater.  There is no          data for week day usage.)  and large venue satisfaction surveys to measure program quality.

Link to these two measurements:  http://www.eiu.edu/union/Staff2.php

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program impact on the university mission.

Provide a link to or listing of the program’s goals and/or strategic plan.

Install outside electronic marquee.

Upgrade the Union to remain technologically current

Establish an information tehnology support position

Enhance external building signage

UPgrade printing equipment in Copy Express

Here is the link detailing Union goals and university objectives supported:  http://www.eiu.edu/union/Staff.php

What role will the program have in the implementation of the university’s strategic plan (provide link to strategic plan)?

http://www.eiu.edu/strategicsummary/index.php

The Martin Luther King Jr. University Union is a gathering place that promotes best practices in diversity programming by providing facilities and colloboration with various organizations on campus.

The Union continues to stay technologically current to meet the ever changing demands of our users.

The MLK, Jr. University Union provides facilities and support for Easetern Illinois University initiatives.

Link to University Union planning initiatives including university goals supported:  

In the next two or three years, what best practices, improvements in operations, or other opportunities to advance the university’s mission are likely to be implemented?

To maintain a current level of technology to support  the needs of students, faculty and other users.  To continue to develop students personally and professionally through employment opportunities, internships. graduate assistantships and various boards.  The Union will work effeciently and effectively to collaborate with other programs to meet the current and future needs of our users.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand future opportunities for the program.