Nontraditional and commuter students now have their own lounge and study center.
Aug. 27, members of Non-Traditional Student Organization unveiled their new commuter lounge, located in Thompson Center 309.
The Student Experience team conducted a survey and found that commuters needed a place to go between classes.
Quantika Robbs, a commuter, said “There are areas on campus made for traditional students in resident halls and the library, but none for non-traditional students.”
Robbs is a senior, interdisciplinary studies major from Asheville.
Cynthia J. Grant, director of The Student Experience said, “The organization is a huge benefit to the campus because it serves as a vehicle in which adult students are allowed to join together to promote high standards, discipline, and commitment to academics in an effort to promote continuous learning.”
The new commuter lounge is equipped with a coffee machine, computers, a television, comfortable couches, and a place to do homework. “I do not think the lounge will benefit our campus,” said Michael Woods, senior, management information systems major, from Fayetteville.
“They could have turned the lounge into office space for student employees.”
The lounge utilized and supervised by adult/commuter students, will provide an environment for non-traditional students to relax, interact through social meetings and study sessions.
“The lounge is a great asset to the campus,” Robbs said.
Robb said she thinks the lounge makes the commuters feel like they are a part of the campus.
“We can’t get into the dorm labs without a resident and sometimes we may not want to go to the library, so the lounge is beneficial to us,” she said.
“We hope that the commuter students will utilize the space as a comfortable refuge between classes,” Grant said.
Edited by Maurika A. Smutherman