For the first time at Western, all student services are under the same roof.
With all student services now under one roof, the new Western Student Services Building has brought together a variety of departments from financial aid to the registrar, among others.
In a long-anticipated move this summer, a variety of services – from financial aid, to the registrar, to international student support – found a new home in the Western Student Services Building.
The $21-million, four-storey space is located close to Western Road, between the University Community Centre and Weldon Library.
“It really helps provide the best service for the student if all the services are working well together,” says Krys Chelchowski, director of student information services and administration, who helped spearhead plans for the new building.
The idea to bring all of Western’s student services together was in the works three years ago, and is a model many other universities use across Ontario, including Queen’s and York universities, she says.
“We’re all kind of tucked away in different parts of different buildings, whereas this was more designed around the type of programming that’s provided by the different areas,” she says. “There has been feedback from students that there wasn’t enough space for the programming that they wanted to do. There’ll be a lot more … elbow room.”
All of the services at the new site report to Western’s vice-provost, with a few exceptions.
The Teaching Support Centre is still located in Weldon Library and has enough space to operate well, Chelchowski says. Continuing Studies at Western will have representation in the new building, but its headquarters will stay in Galleria London downtown.
The Western Student Services Building also has more features built specifically for certain groups such as the David S. Chu International Student Centre, which was funded by a $1-million donation from the Chu family. The money went toward a large meeting space for students where international events can be held.
The area will also help provide room for workshops and programs run by all the services in the building, Chelchowski says.
The building also has a strong indigenous component in the architecture of the building. The university hired a First Nations architect company to help plan construction details that would be important to indigenous services, Chelchowski says.
Though moving to the new building is exciting, there will be challenges to face as students get adjusted to locating services they need, says Gail Hutchinson, director and psychologist of Student Development Services.
“We (were) in a very good area (where) huge traffic goes by,” she says, adding the new location will be worth it in the long-term. “We needed more space, a lot more space.”
Signage in any new building is difficult, but there are colour-coded maps directing students to all the services on each floor, Chelchowski says. There’s also an indoor entrance to the building from the ground floor of the UCC.
The central location on campus is also a plus for helping students locate the building, she adds.
“At least we’re not in a corner off the beaten path.”
John Doerksen, Western’s Vice-Provost (Academic Programs and Students) [Registrar], says he’s optimistic students will have all their needs met with the new student services building
“Our hope is … to have more of a one-stop shopping of delivery of services for students,” he says. “We’re hoping students are going to find this a very efficient way to have their needs met.”
For a full list of the student services in the new building and where they’re located, visit wss.uwo.ca/floorplans.cfm.