An aerial view of the Miller Learning Center at sunrise. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
Through a multitude of ongoing projects and initiatives, the University of Georgia is growing the number of spaces available for student groups to meet, network and host events. The additional auditoriums, multipurpose rooms and other locations will increase UGA’s significant range of venues available to student organizations on campus.
The university’s strategy is to gradually add high-quality meeting and activity spaces because, without a defined funding source such as mandatory tuition, the institution is unable to build dedicated student space. All of these new areas are being introduced without an increase in compulsory tuition fees to support the spaces.
“At the University of Georgia, our first priority is our students, and I am very pleased that we are strengthening UGA’s ability to support students without imposing additional financial burdens on them or their families,” said the President Jere W. Morehead. “I am committed to meeting the needs of our student organizations while keeping costs low, and this path allows us to achieve that goal.”
In May, the university announced it would build a $60.7 million dining, learning and wellness center, as well as a new residence hall that would open in fall 2026 and a new parking garage that would open in 2025. The 68,000-square-foot facility will provide a new common dining area on two floors, as well as a third floor that includes eight to 10 general-purpose classrooms available for groups of students at night and on weekends, as well as additional flexible space for student groups, an auxiliary University Health Center clinic, and nutrition counseling space.
The $30 million renovation of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building will also include areas for students to gather. Once opened next fall, the renovated facility, named in honor of UGA’s first African-American students, Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, will offer several new rooms and multi-purpose spaces that student organizations can to use.
Morehead recently launched a fundraising campaign to support a major renovation of Memorial Hall Ballroom, which will be named in honor of Vice President for Student Affairs Victor K. Wilson, who is retiring on September 30 . This initiative will expand the center’s space. of campus for meetings and student activities.
“At UGA, we strive to provide an exceptional student life experience that enhances the university’s world-class learning environment,” Wilson said. “Premier venues that provide places for students to gather, interact and build community are essential to these efforts. I’m proud that we’re adding even more locations to an already impressive collection of student activity spaces on campus.
The university currently offers a range of venues for student organizations to meet and host events. With 200,000 square feet of space, the Tate Student Center includes more than 30 meeting rooms, lounges and gathering spaces for student organizations, as well as a 12,000 square foot multipurpose room for large-scale activities and events. ladder. In 2022, Morehead commissioned a group to develop a proposal to eliminate venue fees for student events held at the Tate Student Center. The proposal was implemented in fall 2022 and student organizations can now host meetings and events at the Tate Center at little to no cost.
In addition to the numerous multipurpose spaces and auditoriums provided by UGA’s colleges and schools, the university’s iconic chapel also provides an important space for student events in the heart of the North Campus. The Miller Learning Center is another popular choice, with numerous event spaces and meeting rooms that can be scheduled by groups of students. Meanwhile, Multicultural Services and Programs, located in Memorial Hall, and the Greek Life Office, located in the Tate Student Center, provide dedicated spaces for student groups.
The university also offers many outdoor locations where students can meet and network. These include Herty Field, North Campus Quad, DW Brooks Mall and many more.
“Each year, more students commit to attending the University of Georgia, and these investments provide necessary infrastructure advancements that meet a collective student need,” said George Moore, president of the Student Government Association. “The addition of these new locations will only enrich the already exceptional student experience by providing spaces that promote student well-being, belonging and engagement.
