Description

Submitted By: Marianne Brough, Office of Student Engagement; ASMSU

Office of Student Engagement (OSE) and ASMSU request that the Strand Union Building area adjacent to the Bobcat Grill (SUB 153) be assigned to the Office of Student Engagement for the creation of an Off-Campus Life Resource Center (OCL). The OCL would host crucial student services for which students are increasingly seeking support like legal aid, housing, food security, childcare, and transportation alternatives. This space would be a high-profile, one-stop-shop for students to identify campus and community resources to support their basic needs.
Over the past several years, OSE’s programs and services have expanded and additional office space is needed for employees, increased student participation, and service access and awareness. ASMSU Legal Services requires closed-door, private spaces to meet with students confidentially. OSE currently has one small office space available (SUB 221A) which is not sufficient to meet the demand for services. OSE is meeting the immediate need for space by occupying a SUB conference room (making this high-traffic space unavailable to general use) and by continuing to provide some services online only (not optimal for this type of intensive advising and confidential services).
The OCL office would be centrally located in the SUB and will be convenient for students and include resources and referrals for the following services:
• ASMSU Legal Services: 2-4 attorneys, legal interns, and 3rd year law student
• Food Security Scholarships: advising, applications, and assistance
• Bounty of the Bridgers food pantry information and resources: referrals and awareness
• Off Campus Housing Marketplace (College Pads) website and roommate finder: advising, referrals, and awareness
• Emergency resources and funding: advising, applications, and assistance
• Crashpad (emergency housing): advising, applications, and assistance
• Transportation: Streamline, ASMSU Airport Shuttle, and multimodal transportation guides
• Nonprofit partnerships: advising, referrals, and awareness
• Childcare resources: referrals and awareness
• Posted App – short-term/immediate gig work for students on campus
The use of this space will require renovations, a preliminary concept was developed by CPDC design staff and an ROM cost provided by Facilities staff. Based on that a funding plan was developed by OSE, which will fund the improvements using Student Building Fee Funds.

Resolution

Date: February 4, 2022

The Space Management Committee, with supporting recommendation from the SUB Advisory Board, approved the allocation of SUB 153 to the Off-Campus Living Resource Center.