CAMPUS SERVICES BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEW IN CAMPUS SERVICES

UC Graduates Go Green

The University of Cincinnati Commencement Committee and the UC Bookstores teamed up to help commencement “Go Green” this year. For the first time, students were able to purchase an environmentally responsible line of graduation regalia, while also incorporating superior quality and elegant design.

The regalia was part of Jostens Elements Collection™, which is the only graduation regalia scientifically proven to completely biodegrade and has now achieved the USDA Biobased Product Certification. The USDA Biobased Product Certification is a certification issued by the United States Department of Agriculture confirming that a product contains a verifiable amount of renewable biological ingredients. Wood pulp used to make the fabric is sourced exclusively from renewable, managed forests and the gown features a zipper with tape and teeth made from 100% recycled PET. The plastic packaging contains ECM BioFilms™, a material designed to facilitate the decomposition process.

For every student who redeemed the Elements Collection™ gown hang tag code online, Jostens contributed $1 to support environmental sustainability. To facilitate this process, the UC Bookstores collected the hang tags and the Office of Student Affairs entered the information online to ensure that the maximum contribution was made on behalf of the graduates. To date, more than $2,500 has been donated on behalf of the graduates of the University of Cincinnati.

Text Rental Continues to Be Popular Option

In FY12, UC students saved more than $1.1 million by renting their textbooks from UC Bookstores. Additionally, they saved $534,000 buying used books. The UC Bookstores paid students $417,000 for books bought back.

Summer Applications 2012 – One for the Record Books
As of May 4, demand for on-campus housing reached the saturation point, resulting in the closure of the housing application and the implementation of a “wait list” for students interested in living on campus. As of July 10, Housing initiated contact with “wait listed” new students from outside the Cincinnati area, offering on-campus housing. Summer 2012 presented H&FS and Facilities Management partners the task of performing the annual summer turnover work in a compressed time period. With effective planning and collaboration, the turnover program will be complete by hall opening, August 22 and 23.

Helping Hands Volunteers Needed

Hall opening for fall 2012 marks the 12th year of the annual Helping Hands program. It is not too late to sign up to help incoming students and their parents manage the move-in process. Click here to volunteer to serve as a mover or greeter.

Morgens Hall On Schedule to Reopen for Fall 2013

Morgens Hall is scheduled to reopen for Fall Semester 2013, marking the return of apartment-style living since the building closure in 2008. The comprehensive renovation program of Morgens Hall will fully enclose the building with a glass exterior and create larger living spaces by bringing the original balcony feature into the apartment units. All apartments will have redesigned kitchens, new furniture, and appliances. Building operations will be improved through all-new plumbing, electric, and HVAC systems. Given the location of Morgens Hall, the building is expected to be popular with students in CEAS, COB, DAAP and Nursing, while available to students of all academic classifications and majors. Those living on campus during the 2012-13 academic year will receive priority to live in Morgens next year.

Residential Dining Projects for Fall 2012 Well Underway

Food Services staff has initiated many projects to enhance service and the overall customer experience at the residential dining centers. To increase seating capacity at CenterCourt and Stadium View Café, new tables and chairs are being installed. At CenterCourt, new kitchen equipment has been installed to increase productivity.

In MarketPointe, Food Services staff collaborated with Campus Services Marketing staff to refresh the large decorative panels above the food stations, replacing outdated campus photos with bright and colorful fresh fruit and vegetable images. Relocation of the east beverage station to the back wall near the North Wing will improve flow and access to our beverage offerings. The increased space of this location allows for an additional ice machine and additional beverage choices to be added.

Parking Services Prepares for Fall 2012

The staff of Parking Services is busy preparing for fall term, football season, and Convocation.

The seven-game home football season kicks off on Thursday, September 6, at 8 p.m. There will be limited tailgating in Lot 22 located at Highland and Martin Luther King Avenues. Cash parking for all home games is designated in Campus Green, Woodside, Clifton Court, and Eden Garages at the rate of $15 per game. For further information on the football schedule, go to UC Football. The high school Crosstown Showdown schedule includes Nippert Stadium as a location on Friday, August 24, and Saturday, August 25, 2012.  Parking is available in most garages. 

This year, new student convocation will be held on Friday, August 24, at 10 a.m. Complimentary parking will be available in all garages except Varsity Village on a first come, first served basis. The gate arms will be lowered in the early afternoon to prepare for the Crosstown Showdown that will occur later that evening.

3rd Annual Campus Services Showcase Recap

Five-hundred and eight-one (581) faculty/staff members attended the 3rd Annual Campus Services Showcase held on June 14, the three-hour interactive exposition that focuses on the wide range of products and services provided.

The event included culinary demonstrations by executive chefs from Caminetto at Kingsgate and Mick & Mack’s, a Classic Fare Catering culinary showcase, and free samples and wares provided by our partners from Guy Brown Express (office supplies) and our licensed vendors. Additionally, attendees were eligible to win great prizes, receive mini-massages from the Campus Recreation massage therapists, and interact with colleagues. The attendance this year was a 53% increase over last year. In a post event survey, 91% of attendees said they would recommend the Showcase to their colleagues, and 80% rated the Showcase as excellent.

Renovations at Fitness Center at CARE/Crawley to Begin Soon

Renovations will soon be underway at the Campus Recreation Fitness Center at CARE/Crawley. The renovations will make way for a TRX Multimount, five bikes, additional group fitness space, and space for training and iLearn classes. Renovations are expected to be complete by October 2012.

The Fitness Center (FC) at CARE/Crawley on Eden Avenue at the Uptown East Campus offers 12,000 square feet of fitness and wellness space. Membership options are offered for everyone including UC students and employees, university affiliates (e.g., Children’s Hospital), and community members. Members may also use the Campus Recreation Center on main campus.

Aquatics Program and Summer Camp Enrollment Swells in FY12

In FY12, Aquatics programs at the Campus Recreation Center achieved a 66% increase in participation, including a 30% increase in private swimming lessons and a 20% increase in group swimming lessons. The Rec Kids Summer Camp realized a 61% increase in participation and a 43% increase in revenue. Additionally, birthday party rentals in the facility increased by 50% with a total of 84 rentals.

Disability Open Held in May at the Aquatics Complex

The Campus Recreation Center and UC Swimming program hosted the 9th Annual GTAC Disability Open Swim Meet on May 19-20. One hundred and seventy-five (175) athletes from 15 countries competed in the meet. Being an Olympic year, many swimmers used this meet as their last opportunity to qualify for their country’s Olympic trials. The Paralympics will begin immediately following the Olympics in London. This is the third year that UC has hosted this event.

COMING SOON TO CAMPUS SERVICES

• Upcoming Mick & Mack’s Wine Tasting themes are Tour de France on Thursday, September 13, and Wines from Paso Robles on Thursday, October 4. Admission is $15 per person and includes a flight of five wines paired with hors d’oeuvres. Due to the popularity of the tastings, reservations are recommended. Call 556-3653 or email mick@mack@uc.edu.
• The Epicure’s Delights dinner events have a new name and format and are now called Chef’s Table. The event now features a discussion with executive chefs on cooking methods, tips, and ingredients. Recipe cards for our featured menu items will also be distributed at each event. Upcoming Chef’s Table events at Mick & Mack’s are Tuscan Bistro on Thursday, August 16, and Taste of Bourbon on Thursday, September 20. The three-course dinner and drink pairings are $20/person. Due to the popularity of the dinners, reservations are recommended. Call 556-3653 or email mick@mack@uc.edu.
• The UC Bookstores will open a full-service Apple Service Center this fall. The staff will be able to handle both warranty and non-warranty repairs, plus upgrades to memory, troubleshooting software issues, and more. The technicians will be Apple certified. The Service Center is expected to open by November 1 in the UC Bookstores, TUC Level 3.
• Campus Services will host the 2nd Annual National Student Day on Thursday, October 4. Major activities will be centered at the UC Bookstores, with events also occurring at the Campus Recreation Center, MainStreet outdoor spaces, and the dining centers. This year's theme is "Study. Serve. Celebrate." Activities will include UC Bookstores discounts, free coffee with reusable cup, local food-themed meals, a mini-fashion show featuring UC apparel, music, an outdoor movie, and a volunteer fair with neighborhood organizations.

CAMPUS SERVICES IN THE NEWS

• Campus Services and Marketing Director Amy Browns Taylor were featured in the June edition of The College Store Magazine’s “Study, Serve, Celebrate – Again” article for a case study on the 2nd Annual National Student Day.
• Campus Recreation’s Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness Ashley Varol was featured in the July edition of Health Promotion Practitioner. The article, titled “Wellness Researcher Cautions: Don’t Assume You Know What the Customer Needs,” featured Ashley’s research about health risk needs assessments.

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Parking Services welcomes Kyong Han and James McDonough as new parking attendants.
  
• Assistant Director of Member Services (Campus Recreation Center) Emily Piercey completed her master’s in marketing at UC in June.
• Director of Campus Services Marketing Amy Browns Taylor is the University of Cincinnati Association of Administrators, Managers, and Professionals (UCAAMP) president for the 2012-13 year. Assistant Vice-President for Campus Services Operations Pallavi Patel is the past president.