Three years ago, Neumann University raised almost $2 million dollars for a new student center with a million coming from a state grant and $600,000 pledged from the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. One question remains: Where is the student center?
This status of the plan is unclear. Multiple attempts were made to contact administrators who had previously been involved in the planning process with no response.
It was first reported in 2023 by NeuPress that State Senator John Kane had presented a $1 million dollar state grant the previous month. This check was intended to help launch a long-term campus development initiative, a student center.
Inside this student center, which would be built in the parking lot adjacent to Flynn Hall, would house open spaces full of tables, chairs and lounges for students. Included would be places not seen on campus already, areas for clubs, activities, offices, game rooms, as well as a black box theater. Also within the building there would be a new bookstore, dining services, and mission and ministry.
President Dr. Chris Domes described this project to the Daily Times as part of the university master plan for the next 15 years that would position Neumann “as a very appealing option for families as they approach the college selection process.”
Also reported early last year was that the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia had pledged $600,000 toward the project as well.
In a story in Accent magazine, Sister Marian Leaf emphasized the importance of the space stating that a student center would allow students to “gather and interact with people from other cultures with different viewpoints and career goals.
With this new student center, Neumann would join a long list of colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area that offer similar places dedicated to campus life outside of the classrooms.
For example, Temple University’s Howard Gittis Student Center is a multi-story building that houses many rooms for conferences and recreation as well as multiple food options, including their own Chick-fil-A. The Community College of Philadelphia’s Winnet Student Life Building provides “many student support programs and services,” including student clubs and even a student leadership room. Meanwhile, the originator of student centers in the US is the University of Pennsylvania’s own Houston Hall which has been open since 1896.
While students may have no clue if they will get one anytime soon, the question still remains: Do students want a student center in the first place?
Senior Maggie Ensell said she likes “the idea of a student center” and envisions it as “a place where students can gather.” Currently, students congregate in scattered locations across campus, such as the Commuter Lounge in the Bachmann building or the Communications Meeting Room in Mullen Communications building, but no central hub exists.
“I think this generation needs it, I tend to talk to people I see often,” said junior Lyndsie Crawford, expressing support for a dedicated communal space.
While the project seemed to be at the forefront of Neumann’s long-term plans, with students who are aware of the center questioning if those plans are still present moving forward.
With significant funding already pledged and continued student interest being expressed, once again leaving many wondering where our student center and whether it will start construction any time soon? The lack of recent updates as well as faculty not responding to inquiries on the initiative, the future of the Neumann student center remains unclear.
