The Career Center's interview rooms in Flanner Hall, as well as North Dining Hall and South Dining Hall, will be available as study space for the first time during finals week this semester.
The opening of these rooms is a response to student concerns about a lack of guaranteed group study spaces, student body vice president Grant Schmidt said.
"From what I understand, a lot of students are excited about this availability. I definitely believe that it will be useful," he said. "Our goal is simply to provide students with the best accommodations for their study plans during the exam schedule."
Schmidt and Academic Affairs Committee Chair Ryan Brellenthin worked with the Advisor Committee on Academic and Student Life (ACASL) and the Career Center.
"We wanted to strive for a location, particularly during exam week, for students to be able to get together to prepare as a group," Schmidt said.
Schmidt met with Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Ann Firth and Director of Food Services Dave Prentkowski before Fall Break to finalize the use of the dining halls as study space.
The east side of South Dining Hall will be available for study. In North Dining Hall, one room on the south side will be open for quiet study while the other will serve as a group study space. Each of these rooms will be open Dec. 14 through Dec. 19, between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Student Government will pay the security costs of the two dining halls during these hours.
The Dining Halls may be used as study space during spring semester finals if Student Government sees a large turnout and positive response from students, Schmidt said.
ACASL, which has been addressing the issue of study spaces since last year, began to consider the use of the Career Center in early November, Brellenthin said.
University Vice President for Student Affairs Fr. Mark Poorman and Career Center director Lee Svete organized the use of the rooms with the help of Brellenthin, who advised them about student needs.
"One of the nicest features about these rooms is that they are able to be reserved up to a week in advance," Brellenthin said. "That is something that cannot be said about LaFortune, the library, or just about any other study space on campus."
The Career Center has made arrangements so that students may access the building and restrooms with student IDs.
Students must call the Interview Center to reserve a room in advance. If the program continues in the future, Brellenthin said ACASL will explore online reservation options.
