The Student Engagement and Collaboration Area, also known as the SECA, on the second floor of the UMC opened on Sept. 14. It has the potential to be used by a lot of students. The area has an open lounge and study rooms for students, as well as offices for the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), the Cultural Unity & Engagement Center (CUE) and UMC Events Planning & Catering.
“The SECA was designed as the Center for Student Involvement was being redesigned,” said Andrea Zelinko, the UMC director. “As we were decreasing the number of office spaces in the building, it became clear to us that student organizations representing underrepresented students needed a place to meet. That’s why the meeting rooms are set up as a priority reservation for those student organizations.”
Meeting rooms that are not reserved by certain student groups are open to any student. During the academic year, the rooms will be reserved strictly for student use, according to Zelinko. Unlike the rest of the UMC, campus departments or outside groups will not be able to reserve space for events in the SECA.
“It’s very cool, definitely different from what I was expecting,” said senior Summer Deeb, referring to the SECA. “I think that everyone’s going to get a comfortable space to study and hang out and do homework in.”
The offices inside the SECA are using the new space to expand their reach.
“The CSI is housed here in the UMC and we imagine many of our students will use the SECA lounge for meetings or working on collaborative projects,” said Candace Nuang Tardío, CSI’s coordinator for cultural programs. “We oversee student organizations at CSI, so it’s really just a matter of pointing organizations and student leaders to using the SECA lounge as a resource and a space for doing their projects and endeavors.”
“The space has only been open since the start of the school year but when anyone’s walked into it, I’ve heard really positive things,” said Zelinko. “It has an energetic vibe to it, which is exciting to see.”
Contact CU Independent News Staff Writer Carina Julig at carina.julig@colorado.edu.
