UAM Additions And Needs Part Two: The Commuter Study Lounge
Caleb Burger
Managing Editor
The University of Arkansas-Monticello’s new addition, the Commuter Study Lounge located in Harris Hall Room 219, began its job this semester of giving commuter students a place to do work or rest while on campus.
The lounge contains two computers for students to work on homework or to relax on between classes. It also features a table to work or have lunch on, a microwave and a refrigerator. A couch serves for a spot to relax and bulletin boards provide UAM news and upcoming events as well as information more sensitive to commuters, such as carpooling, class scheduling and vehicle parking and safety. The lounge offers free coffee during their 8:15 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. workday.
Director of Counseling, Testing and Career Services Laura Hughes supervises the lounge and said, “We discussed in Student Affairs the need for commuters to have a place to relax, eat and study.”
Hughes said they moved computers and most of the furniture from the upstairs tutoring labs, and that Student Affairs assisted with purchasing some items, though she was unsure of the total cost. She also said that the move to the second floor did increase the traffic in the tutoring area, considering the location by the tutoring labs conveniently allows students who need help to just step down the hall. If commuters miss out on the daytime tutoring hours, night tutoring takes place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8.
Hughes said, “Last month we nearly had 100 people sign in and use the commuter lounge and labs.”
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| Photo by Caleb Burger |
| Hard At Work - Vivian Sworn concentrates on her assignments as she waits for a tutor to join her. Sworn commutes from Crossett to UAM, where she studies as a psychology major. |
According to a previous article from The Voice, written by Britney Bradshaw, commuters not only faced the rising gas prices, but they also ran into issues regarding large blocks of time between their classes. This caused them to figure out ways to fill that time.
Considering the commuter lounge just recently opened its doors, the only options available for students consisted of the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology Center, the Writing Center, the various computer labs on campus, Java City, the cafeteria and the Patio Café.Unfortunately, those places either didn’t allow food in them or they dedicated their services to serving food. The middle ground that commuters needed did not exist. Thought they could still do homework and eat, a place that could service them with a place to eat, do homework and relax had not yet been established until UAM implemented the Commuter Study Lounge.
Now, UAM commuters actually possess the option to utilize a service that became part of UAM specifically for them. The lounge also informs commuters on carpooling, class scheduling and vehicle safety tips.
Vivian Sworn, a senior psychology major, said she utilizes the Commuter Study Lounge every now and then when on campus. She also said aside from parking, UAM commuter students have access to computers, tutors and pretty much everything other students have to choose from.
They encourage commuters to utilize the Commuter Connections Ride Share Bulletin Board, which provides a way for students to find out where other commuters travel from and how they could create a carpooling team. Students just place their name, city and UAM email address on a file card and post it to the Ride Share Bulletin Board.
Sworn said she does not use the Commuter Connection Carpool program because she after school and cannot leave directly after. Sworn also commutes from Crossett, a 45 minute drive one way.
She said, “I wouldn’t want to wait for hours for someone to ride with,” and that carpooling wouldn’t work “unless they have the same schedule.”
| Sample Average Undergraduate Budgets, 2006-2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Resident vs. Commuter - This table represents the average yearly cost for the two in various types of institutions. At a four-year public institute, commuters spend $610 more than resident students as of 2006-2007. |
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Carpooling tips recommend students meet with their carpool partners beforehand to figure out details such as how often to carpool, driving time, pick-up and drop-off arrangements, back-up plans and other minor details. This can allow students to meet new people and save money on gasoline, parking and car maintenance.
In relation to the scheduling conflicts that commuters may experience, the lounge offers class scheduling tips specific to commuters. Many commuters tend to take classes back-to-back to avoid the large breaks in-between classes; however, that can cause problems academically.
Fatigue can become an issue, which can lower productivity and concentration in the latter classes of the day. When students cram that much material back-to-back, they cannot digest the information and process it properly to retain it. A recommendation to allow time to relax, study and eat between classes said it will help with making class more enjoyable.
As far as for the future of the Commuter Lounge, Hughes said, “We will continue to have it and hope it does outgrow the space.”
UAM will also hold the first Commuter Appreciate Day in the spring, which will receive future coverage.
For more information on the Commuter Appreciation Day or the Commuter Study Lounge, contact Laura Hughes at 460-1354 or go by Room 201 in Harris Hall.
