Students looking for an alternative place to study for finals this week can find comfort in the Student Union.
From Monday until Dec. 14, the Student Union will be open 24 hours, as students begin to study for final exams.
Student Government Association Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator Adam Giery said additional tables, chairs and power strips will be brought in to maximize study space in the Student Union. Student Development and Enrollment Services will be handing out free school supplies for all in attendance. Tutoring sessions will be made available by the Student Academic Resource Center, and SGA will host midnight breakfasts for students throughout till Wednesday night.
“What makes this thing so cool is … besides the free stuff, we are reaching out to the students, trying to provide them with a study space to maximize their academic efforts,” Giery said.
The UCF Library will also have extended hours through finals week. The library will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and from noon to 3 a.m. on Dec. 13, said Meg Scharf, the associate director for public services at the UCF Library.
SARC will be holding 36 tutoring sessions Monday through Wednesday, and the Writing Center will be offering consultations to students to proofread final papers and assignments.
All tutoring sessions will be held in one wing of the Student Union.
Sophomore civil engineering major A.J. Modesto said he will be taking full advantage of the tutoring sessions to get ready for his chemistry II final.
Junior electrical engineering major Amber Scheurer said she would be willing to give Study Union a shot this year as she studies for her physics III and electrical systems finals.
Restaurants inside the Student Union will have extended hours through finals week, providing students different food options.
Study Union has seen a growth in attendance since its inception last fall. Giery said more than 80,000 students came to the first Study Union in the fall semester of 2008, and more than 117,000 students came during spring 2009 finals.
The success of the event has drawn the attention of other Florida schools.
Representatives from schools such as Florida State University and the University of South Florida have come to UCF to see how to set up the event at their universities.
Giery said USF officials will be in attendance this week to observe how the event is managed.
Study Union is being paid for by a $10,000 grant from the UCF Parent Fund as part of the Creed Incentive Grant Fund. SGA is providing additional funding for the free breakfasts, Giery said.
Giery said SDES will be giving out supplies ranging from Scantrons and blue books to eco-friendly writing utensils, such as biodegradable pens and recycled wooden pencils.
Students can go to www.facebook.com and join the “Study Union will be open 24 hours during finals week and FREE FOOD!” group for message reminders and more infomation.
Source: Central Florida Future, Student Union open 24 hours, Extended hours during finals week, by Matt Reinstetle; Published: Sunday, December 6, 2009, Updated: Sunday, December 6, 2009