While the politicians promise change for the country, students at UNC Charlotte only need to look out one of the many windows on campus to see the changes. The new student union now has a brick exterior, a large mountain of dirt between the library and the SAC promises a new terraced garden, and who could forget the new front entrance?
The construction reflects not only the physical growth of the University, but the growth of the student population as well. Many of the studies on campus, including the University’s Master Plan, expect the school to grow to over 30,000 students in the next 20 years.
Growth almost always brings controversy. Usually it’s the argument of quality versus quantity. Can the school still provide the necessary resources for new students without sacrificing the current students’ needs?
Personally, I feel the growth will only help the current students and the community. Mecklenburg County has the largest population in the state, and is currently expanding. The county needs a large school to accommodate the growth of the region.
Enlarging the school also helps current students. A larger university will have a larger staff, allowing students to get more perspective, unlike that offered at smaller colleges. The larger institutions also usually have more prestigious reputations, making a degree from the institution more valuable.
While I have no problem with the University’s attempts to expand the school, I do think that many of the projects could have had better planning. The new student union will give students a place to congregate, a place to relax after their stressful days, but only if they can summon the energy to get there first.
The building resides on a side of campus only frequented by science and engineering majors. While the biology majors will enjoy the benefit of a Wendy’s and a Starbucks, I can’t imagine many communications majors walking out of their way for a cup of coffee they could get at Ritazza.
The lack of foresight applies to the housing situation as well. The issue was so great that The Charlotte Observer reported on the shortage. Over 150 students had to reside in overflow housing, the study rooms in the dorms becoming makeshift bedrooms.
Part of the Master Plan includes the addition of 2,400 beds for students, which will increase the amount available to roughly 20 percent of the student body, something that is similar to universities of similar size.
Although the administrators formed the plan in 2000, little work has started for the new housing. Many academic buildings have gone up, including Woodward, the College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Education. While the academic space increased, the housing really did not. Now the University is playing catch-up as it struggles to house its students.
The terraced garden should beautify the school’s campus, but other projects need higher priorities. Every expansion has growing pains, and it’s the job of the administrators to minimize that impact. The situation on campus is nowhere near as bad as it could be, but current students and staff need to keep track of the progress so that the campus has will have enough room for its new population.
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