Overview of Commuter and Off-Campus Life Programs and Facility Offerings/Services Services/Facili>es
Hours of Opera,on: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
COCL Main Lounge Space
Goal: Provide students who live off-campus with a clean, efficient loca8on to do homework, gather with friends, eat their meals, and relax.
Ameni>es: Mul8ple couches/ sea8ng/ tables, computers, electronic charger rentals, game rentals, commuter assistants, and more.
Ra>onale: Create a sense of belonging and a home away from home.
U>liza>on: The main lounge space is typically at full capacity during peak hours of the day 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and generally fully during the remaining hours of opera8on.
Commuter Kitchen
Goal: Provide students who live off-campus with a clean, efficient loca8on to use for preparing/ storing their meals or snacks from home.
Ameni>es: 3 fridges, 4 microwaves, sink, utensils/cups/plates, countertop space, and coffee/hot water for tea in the mornings.
Ra>onale: A significant amount of money can be saved by preparing and supplying lunch from home rather than purchasing a meal every day. Commuters need ameni8es like residen8al students to prepare a meal.
Process: Kitchen is open to the public during the hours the COCL is open. Free coffee/ hot water for tea is provided each morning between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
U>liza>on: Refrigerators are rou8nely full. Coffee/hot water for tea service provides users with upwards of 130-150 cups per day.
Lacta5on Rooms (2)
Goal: Provide students, faculty, or staff with a safe, secure loca8on to use for lacta8on purposes or for baby changing areas.
Ra>onale: Most non-tradi8onal students are also commuters. Some may be new parents.
Process: Keys to the lacta8on rooms are stored at the main recep8onist desk and a person wishing to u8lize a lacta8on room checks out a key at the front desk by presen8ng their UIC student ID.
U>liza>on: The COCL Lacta8on rooms currently average ten visits per week.
Student Lockers (368)
Goal: Provide an easily accessible loca8on for commuter students to store books and personal items while on campus.
Ra>onale: Having a loca8on to store personal items aids in the level to which commuters feel connected to campus. This service provides added safety for personal items since students will not have to travel throughout the day with all their personal items.
Process: Lockers are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and are available for full semester and weekly rentals. The COCL provides locks.
U>liza>on: All 368 lockers are reserved by the end of the first two weeks of the semester. The weekly lockers are regularly used to capacity. The computers are rou8nely all in use.
Mul5-Purpose Room
Goal: Provide students and departments a space in the COCL to hold events and workshops. When not in use for programs, provide a quieter study space removed from the main lounge area. Addi8onally, to provide commuter students a quick op8on to u8lize a computer and printer in an easily accessible loca8on.
Ra>onale: Hos8ng events in a loca8on familiar and easily accessible to commuters helps increase a\endance. Computers and internet access are a necessity of college student life, so the COCL provides resources where one can quickly check email, print, check UIC Blackboard, or complete other computer tasks.
U>liza>on: There are mul8ple events hosted per month in the mul8-purpose room. The room is o^en fully at capacity throughout each day. Also, all lockers are rented by students in this space.
Computer Lab and Printer
Goal: Provide commuter students a quick op8on to u8lize a computer and printer in an easily accessible loca8on.
Ra>onale: Computers and internet access are a necessity of college student life, so the COCL provides resources where one can quickly check email, print, check UIC Blackboard, or complete other computer
U>liza>on: Printer records over 4,500 prints per month.
Goal: Provide students with an addi8onal loca8on to use the restroom while in the Commuter Student Resource Center.
Quiet Study Space
Goal: Provide students with a quiet space where there is no talking or noise allowed.
Ra>onale: This type of area provides an important physical space to take online exams, study for class, apply for jobs, and so much more without the distrac8on of noise.
Process: Separate space can be rented out to organiza8ons on campus.
Innova5on Lounge
Goal: An addi8onal space for students to gather and work coopera8vely. This loca8on is open to organiza8ons on campus to gather as well when rented. This space also is a great loca8on to host programming events for COCL.
Ra>onale: The COCL wants mul8ple spaces available for the large number of students who use the center every day. This room’s layout allows for group work to be done efficiently.
Flex Space
Goal: Provide a smaller space for campus organiza8ons to rent out for all purposes. UIC students can u8lize this space when it is not rented out as a secluded study space.
Ra>onale: Help facilitate smaller group discussions in this mee8ng space, closed off from the COCL quiet space.
Commuter Apprecia5on Week
Selec>ve Programs
Goal: Provide a series of events and ac8vi8es to show apprecia8on and support to commuters at UIC.
Ra>onale: Commuter students may face addi8onal challenges in their overall UIC experience, thus this week is intended to recognize and appreciate the commu8ng popula8on. The week also serves as an opportunity to inform UIC of the CSRC and its resources.
Process: COCL Programming Team plans events dedicated to commuters.
U>liza>on: 350-400 students a\ended the commuter apprecia8on events on average.
Programming List (2022-2023):
• Spill Your Culture
• Movie Night
• Tasty Bites Day
• Bagel Care
• Commuter Fair
Commuter Connect
Goal: Provide assistance to commuters who have ques8ons about our commuter space or general ques8ons about commu8ng.
Ra>onale: UIC is a large commuter school which creates ques8ons and confusion about commu8ng. Through commuter connect, our programming assistants are able to answer ques8ons about commu8ng, the commuter student resource center, and off-campus housing.
Process: Programming assistants hosted a table outside of the CSRC to promote the space and answer ques8ons.
U>liza>on: On average, 30-40 students were able to ask ques8ons regarding commu8ng.
Commuter Student Resource Cart
Goal: Provide snacks and promote the Commuter Resource Center
Ra>onale: Our space provides different resources and events, and the cart allows us to promote those. It also allows our student staff to promote our space outside of SCE, where our center is located.
Process: Students swipe their ID and can choose a snack from the cart. Our student staff also hands out promo8onal flyers.
U>liza>on: On average, 80-90 students were able to take a snack and promo8onal flyer.
Commuter Monthly Social Programs
Goal: To engage students in ac8vi8es during the week and socialize with one another.
Ra>onale: Students can easily get stressed throughout studying and our monthly social programs have been implemented to support students during those 8mes and allow them to engage in different ac8vi8es. It also allows our team members to socialize and engage with other commuter students.
Process: Students a\end the event and take part in ac8vi8es.
U>liza>on: On average, 50 students a\ended the monthly social program events.
Examples:
• Pumpkin Season Cookie Decorating
• Valentine’s Craft Day
• Karaoke + Ice Cream Night
• It’s Origami Time
Professional Headshot Day
Goal: To provide students with headshots they can use for professional use.
Ra>onale: As our students will go on into the workforce, they will come across the need for a professional headshot photo. The COCL was able to help students get their headshots taken.
Process: Students signed up for a 8me slot and provided their UIC emails to receive their photos.
U>liza>on: 100 students were able to get their headshots taken during 2023.
Off-Campus Living 101
Goal: To provide students with informa8on about living off-campus.
Ra>onale: Many UIC students look for offcampus housing because it meets their needs. However, the first step into looking for housing can be confusing. COCL’s Off-Campus Living 101 presenta8on is to provide students with informa8on on searching for housing off campus.
Process: Students were provided with a presenta8on and addi8onal links for searching for housing, legal rights, and other resources that are provided in the city of Chicago.
U>liza>on: 20 students a\ended the presenta8on online and in-person. This presenta8on was also recorded and available for students to watch a^er the event.
Off-Campus Housing Week
Goal: Provide students with a week’s worth of informa8on from professionals to help with finding housing off of the UIC campus.
Ra>onale: Living off-campus and naviga8ng the diverse op8ons and residen8al companies can be a difficult experience for college students, many of whom are facing such choices for the first 8me. The COCL helps by providing literature and contacts with companies as well as being available for advice or consulta8on.
Process: Students a\ended different events related to searching for housing and gehng legal help.
U>liza>on: 600 students a\ended the off-campus housing events on average.
Event list (April 2023):
• Off-Campus Housing Fair
• Off-Campus 101 w/ COCL
• Real Experts, Real Solutions
• Real Talk: No Nonsense Tips
• Virtual Off-Campus Housing Fair
Commuter Student Advisory Board
Goal: Have a diverse group of commuter students meet and discuss the commuter experience.
Ra>onale: Monthly mee8ngs filled with lively discussion in hope to advocate for change.
Board Membership: The board consists of 10 undergraduate students ranging from 1st year students to 4th year students and one graduate student from the Commuter and Off-Campus Life Office.
Take a Professor to Lunch (TAPL)
Goal: Encourage students to build rela8onships with their professors and classmates over a meal.
Ra>onale: Learning can come from the conversa8ons that take place regarding research, career aspira8ons, and choosing a major.
Process: A group of 1 to 8 students host a professor of their choice for a free lunch in the CSRC.
U>liza>on: 400 students are currently able to take advantage of this program.
Commuter and Off-Campus Life Programming Calendar
August 2022- May 2023:
August 21 Pre-Convoca8on Recep8on
August 22 COCL Open House
August 30-31 Involvement Fair
August 30 Transfer Recep8on
September 6 Commuter Student Resource Cart
September 13 Commuter Student Resource Cart
September 20 Commuter Student Resource Cart
September 26 Paint Away Your Fall Thoughts
September 28 Commuter Student Resource Cart
October 4 Commuter Student Resource Cart
October 10 Commuter Acknowledgement (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
October 11 Commuter Student Resource Cart
October 11 Morning Bagel Tuesday (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
October 12 Pop and Popcorn Night (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
October 13 Commuter Pizza and Karaoke (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
October 14 UIC Snapshot Studio (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
October 17-21 Transfer Student Week
October 18 Commuter Student Resource Cart
October 25 Commuter Student Resource Cart
October 27
October 31
Pumpkin Season
Commuter Student Resource Cart
November 9 Professional Headshot Day
November 10 Commuter Student Resource Cart
November 11 Flames Friday
November 15 Commuter Student Resource Cart
November 17 Commuter Game House
November 21 Commuter Student Resource Cart
November 28 Off-Campus Housing Day
November 30 Commuter Student Resource Cart
December 5-9 End of Semester
January 17 Transfer Recep8on
February 13
Valen8ne’s Cra^ Day
February 20 Commuter Connect
March 3 Commuter Student Resource Cart
March 8 Ice Cream & Karaoke Night
March 9 Commuter Connect
March 13-17 Take A Professor to Lunch Week
March 17
Commuter Student Resource Cart
March 27 Spill Your Culture (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
March 28
Movie Night (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
March 29 Tasty Bites Day (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
March 30 Bagel Care (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
March 31 Commuter Fair (Commuter Apprecia8on Week)
April 4 Commuter Connect
April 12 Commuter Student Resource Cart
April 17 Off-Campus Housing Fair (Off-Campus Housing Week)
April 18 Off-Campus Housing 101 (Off-Campus Housing Week)
April 19 Real Experts, Real Solu8ons (Off-Campus Housing Week)
April 20 Commuter Connect
April 20 Real Tips: No Nonsense Tips (Off-Campus Housing Week)
April 21 Virtual Off-Campus Housing Fair (Off-Campus Housing Week)
April 24 It’s Origami Time
April 28 Commuter Student Resource Cart
May 1 Commuter Student Resource Cart
May 1-5 End of Semester
