1:  What is going to be in the new Joe Crowley Student Union?
A:  Thanks to information gathered through an extensive survey process and other student input, we will have a building designed to meet the needs of students.  Here is what you can look forward to:

• A “state of the art” two-story bookstore that you can easily navigate with expanded merchandise and a lot of space.
• A 220 seat movie theater to host student films and movie series,, other fun events.
• A food court with many new food options, a sports grille, and a coffeehouse that will include national brands (watch for announcements soon)
• Other retail opportunities include the possibilities for a full-service bank, game room for billiards, copy center, mail/shipping center, convenience store, and more.
• Student lounges, meeting rooms, and event spaces such as a ballroom that can seat up to 1200 people for large events.
• Several shaded patios and outdoor seating areas with easy access to the food court and sports grille.  There will also be increased outdoor programming areas for bands and movies.
• Fabulous views.
• Increased space for the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN), the Graduate Student Association (GSA), and The Center for Student Cultural Diversity.

2:  Will we have more food choices in the new Student Union?
A:  Yes!  There will be retail food including national and local brands.  Look for your favorite food place to possibly show up in the new union.

3:  Will there be more room for student organizations?
A:  Yes!  The Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) will have expanded space.  In addition, the new union will be the new home of the Center for Student Cultural Diversity and the student life that this organization brings.

4:  Are there spaces just to relax and be with friends?
A:  The Joe Crowley Student Union will be a four story building with many safe and welcoming spaces, including lounges where students can hang out with friends, faculty, or just work on homework.  You can share a meal at the new food court, grab a cup of coffee at the coffeehouse, or pick up a billiards cue in the sports grille.  These spaces will all provide wireless internet connections.  Looking for more activity?  Try seeing a movie in the 220-seat movie theater or attend one of the programs in the new programming spaces.

5:  What type of retail stores will be in the new Student Union?
A:  Retail services will be provided in the new union.  These retailers will offer centrally located services for the campus community and may include a bank.  There will also be a convenience store!  

6:  Will I be able to hang out and do my homework in the Joe Crowley Student Union?
A:  Absolutely!  The new Student Union will have many spaces where students can work on homework in a social setting.  The union will also offer wireless capability so you can easily access your e-mail on your laptop.

7:  What is the new Student Union going to look like?
A:  Check out the following renderings of the outside and layouts of the different floor plans:  http://www.unr.edu/studentunion/newstudentunion/renderings.htm

8:  Will the Joe Crowley Student Union hire students?
A:  The Student Union values student employees and relies on them to give excellent customer service.  The new Student Union will continue to provide convenient on-campus employment for many students.

9:  What is the new Student Union fee?
A:  The new Student Union fee will contribute to the construction of the new Joe Crowley Student Union and the enhancement of the student experience on campus.  This is a mandatory fee that students said they would be willing to pay, in the campus wide survey, to fund the construction of a new facility.

10: How did this new Student Union project start?
A:  The Joe Crowley Student Union project has been a hope of the University and the student leaders for many years.  The project was kicked into high gear by ASUN President Alicia Lerud in early 2003 when she put forth a resolution for the expansion of student life facilities, which included a new union.  As a result, ASUN and GSA leaders worked with the administration to develop an Education and Survey Working Group.  This group was made up of students, faculty, and staff who were for, against, and neutral about the potential project.  An outside consultant was hired to develop a thorough feasibility study to determine if this project was both needed and wanted by students.

11:  Who said yes to this fee?
A:  Students said yes to the fee through a multi-survey process.  Outside consultants, in cooperation with the Education and Survey Working Group, developed a study using two surveys – the first to determine what students wanted/needed and the second to determine if students were willing to pay for it.  These surveys received the highest number of student participants in any survey at this university – almost 8000 total responses.  The results of the first survey were used to create the building design and to specifically determine the necessary student fee. The results of the second survey showed an overwhelming support for the project from the students.  When presented with the actual fees, 72% (± 1.5% margin of error) of all students said they would be willing to pay for the new union.  Based on the student support and the student presentations to the Board of Regents, the Board unanimously approved the project and fees in March of 2004.

12: Are these survey results valid?
A:  Absolutely!  Due to an advanced marketing blitz, we received 4,433 responses on the first survey and 3,523 responses on the second survey.  This resulted in a Margin of Error of ±1.5%, compared to industry standard of ±5%.  Responses were representative of all demographics including class standing, ethnicity, and living situation. Great care was taken in the development of the surveys to ensure that it was unbiased.  In addition, focus groups were completed to test the responses. 

13:  How much are the new student union fees?
A:  There is a fee structure to take into account the different types of students we serve.  ASUN and GSA decided on the following for their constituents:

• Undergraduate students taking 4 or more credits:  $94 per semester
• Undergraduate students taking 3 or less credits:  $25 per semester
• Graduate students taking 7 or more credits:  $97 per semester
• Graduate students taking 6 credits or less:  $49 per semester

14:  Is this fee covered by financial aid?
A:  The fee is included with all other mandatory fees in the budget for financial aid recipients.

15: Can I opt out of this fee like I can some of the other fees?
A:  No.  In order to allow financial aid to cover the fee, it had to be a mandatory fee.  This was also necessary to make a commitment to paying back the bonds.  The ASUN and GSA Presidents have recently revisited this issue and confirmed that it is a mandatory fee and there is no appeal process.

16:  Will there be a new fee with summer school?
A:  Yes.  When asked, student leaders said that all students needed to pay the fees and support the project.  Beginning for the 2007 Summer Sessions, a new fee will be implemented for all those attending summer school.

17: When is the Joe Crowley Student Union going to open?
A:  Construction has already begun and we expect to open during the fall semester of 2007.

18:  Who decided on what is going to be in the Joe Crowley Student Union?
A:  Students had the primary input as to what the building would include.  In addition to the results of the first survey, student input was gathered through many open forums, online comments, ASUN, GSA, and Residence Hall Association.  The final decisions on what will be in the new building have been made by the New Student Union Planning Team (NSUPT).  The NSUPT includes ASUN and GSA Presidents. 

19: How much is this new student union going to cost?
A:  The entire project cost is approximately $63 million.

20:  Why do I have to pay if I won’t be here to use it?
A:  In 2003, student leaders requested to delay the fee until the construction of the new building began.  This fee process was clearly presented in the second survey when students approved it.  Construction began in March. The fall of 2006 will be the first semester that the fee is implemented.  This is an investment in our university, and student life will be a source of pride for generations.  Even if you won’t be here to enjoy the finished building, there will be many future students who will benefit.

21:  Why do we need a new union?
A:  We have simply outgrown the Jot Travis Student Union (JTSU):

• The bookstore routinely has to close off access during the first few weeks of classes because they exceed fire code capacity.
• ASUN and GSA student leader’s offices need to be expanded.  In order to better serve students, these offices need to be more accessible with a layout to help students find what they need.
• There is no room in the JTSU for ASUN’s Sagebrush Newspaper and Wolf Pack Radio. These will be combined with the rest of ASUN in the new union.
• The Center for Student Cultural Diversity will have a prime location and join the other student groups in the new union.
• Every year, the JTSU turns away about 25 reservations per week due to a lack of space.
• The campus has grown to the point where there is no longer convenient parking or shuttle stops to the JTSU.

22: Why is the new union in a different location?
A:  The center of campus activity is moving north.  The new union will be in between the new Knowledge Center (library) and Lombardi Recreation Center.  It will also be close to the Lawlor Events Center and Mackay Stadium with plenty of parking close by in the Whalen Parking Garage and the West Parking Stadium.  This area will become the new “main” entrance to campus and we are excited to be right in the middle of it!

23: Why not just expand the JTSU instead of spending the money on an entirely new building?
A:  In addition to being in the new heart of campus life, it is not possible to expand the JTSU any more.  There is nowhere to “build out” and the construction makes it impossible to “build up”.

24:  What will happen to the JTSU?
A:  We don’t know yet.  The JTSU will revert back to the university and the Facility Resources Committee will evaluate proposals and campus needs to best allocate the space. 

25:  Where are we now in the building process?
A:  The site excavation was completed during fall 2005 in conjunction with the Knowledge Center in order to reduce costs.  The building design and architectural drawings were both completed in the fall as well.  We just hired the contractors to start construction and celebrated April 13th with a construction kick-off.

26:  If they’ve started, when will I see any changes?
A:  You can click here http://www.unr.edu/studentunion/newstudentunion/ and watch the construction as it occurs.  Soon you will see steel being erected.  

27:  Are the Joe Crowley Student Union and the new student union the same thing?
A:  Yes.  In the fall of 2005, ASUN and GSA both recommended that the new student union be named after former University of Nevada, Reno President Joe Crowley.  The Board of Regents agreed, therefore, we are now proudly constructing the Joe Crowley Student Union.

28:  Who is Joe Crowley?
A:  Dr. Joseph N. Crowley is the longest serving president in the history of the University of Nevada, Reno, 1978-2001. "Joe" (as he prefers to be called), initially joined the university as a political science faculty member in 1966. Part of his long and distinguished legacy is that his record clearly demonstrates the he really cares about students. The admiration and respect for his leadership within our campus community is quite evident. However, his significant impact on higher education extends far beyond the campus. He is recognized through out the state of Nevada, nationally and internationally for his presidential leadership and wisdom which included a term as President for the NCAA from 1993-95. In honor of his advocacy for students and contributions to the campus and higher education in general, students requested that the new student union carry the name "Joe Crowley".