The long-awaited renovation of the Student Union will be unveiled when the Heart of Campus reopens Aug. 8 with limited hours. Regular operating hours are planned to resume Friday, Aug. 21.
The three-year project saw its final phase of renovations completed just in time for campus to welcome back students for the fall semester. Expanding dining options now include a full-service Starbucks on the second floor — the coffee shop on Memory Mall isn’t going anywhere — and additional seating and square footage.
The boardwalks, which have been closed due to construction on the building, will open again to allow for pedestrian traffic between the Union and Memory Mall.
“We hope to set up an environment that allows for students to still enjoy our facilities while staying safe,” says Rick Falco ’98 ’01MA, director of the Student Union.
As such, in accordance with university guidelines, face coverings are required inside the building.
Read more below about the Student Union’s new guidelines, modifications and practices for its most-used spaces and resources as UCF continues to work to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The desk will be operational during the Union’s regular business hours. Plexiglass screens, social distancing signage, including floor stickers, have been added as safety measures.
Seats will be set in small clusters of 1-4 seats to allow for small group study and conversation. Clusters will be a minimum of 6-feet apart in all spaces, with no space having more than 50 percent capacity.
Guidelines are still being finalized and details will be shared soon.
Due to the lab’s single-entry point and small walkways, which make physical distancing a challenge, the lab is closed until further notice.
The UCF Bike Repair Service will resume normal operations, however it is implementing reduced employee schedules to allow for physical distancing.
This space has been repurposed into a lounge area for the time being.
A maximum of four individuals will be able to use this non-denominational meditation and prayer space at once. Floor markings will be used to encourage physical distancing.
The ticketing center will be reopening Tuesday, Sept. 8. It’ll be open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click for a complete list of tickets, prices and availability.
- studentunion.ucf.edu
- @UCFSU on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
The Student Union oversees both locations at Knights Plaza and Ferrell Commons, which will reopen Monday, Aug. 24, seven days a week with reduced hours to allow for overnight sanitation.
These hours may be adjusted as needed:
- Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. until 2 a.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.
Public-use computers in these facilities will be reduced to 50 percent capacity to encourage physical distancing, with staff sanitizing workstations once an hour as well as having sanitizing wipes available for students.
Group study rooms will be closed.
To help protect event participants and the campus community, the Student Union strongly suggests events occur following a virtual or hybrid model.
In order to host an in-person event, facial coverings and social distancing measures are required for both indoor and outdoor spaces. All event spaces will have fixed setups with limited modifications. In keeping with state guidelines, gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people.
Clients will be fully responsible for enforcement and must submit a safety plan at least two weeks prior to the event. Sanitation of the event spaces will take place between events.
All in-person events must be ticketed or RSVP with guest list maintained for 60 days after the event.
Wednesday Market Days as well as other non-university events will not be held for the fall semester.
Virtual Studios will be available to support both live and pre-recorded virtual events.
The main campus food pantry for students started as a closet in the Student Union more than 10 years ago. Although it now has its own space in Ferrell Commons, it still is supervised by Student Union staff.
All students are welcome to use the pantry’s services. The pantry is open Monday through Friday on the main campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note, the pantry will be closed Aug. 10–14 for inventory and reorganizing but will resume operations Aug. 17.
It currently offers curbside pickup of food items, and starting Aug. 24 will offer in-store shopping by appointment only for clothing and miscellaneous items. No food items will be available during an in-store shopping appointment.
In-store appointments and curbside pickup will both be arranged in advance via an online form. More details about the process are forthcoming.
While the pantry is still accepting food donations, pantry staff kindly requests no clothing donations at this time. Contactless drop-off of food items can be donated at the two bins located outside of the pantry’s entrance and it is highly encouraged to donate during our hours of operation so on-site staff can process the items quickly and efficiently.
For the latest information about returning to campus, visit UCF’s coronavirus and Returning to UCF websites. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to complete the COVID Self-Checker — available via the UCF mobile app or online — each day before arriving to campus.
