Frequently Asked Questions

A. Since the Phillip R. Shriver Center was constructed in 1957, Miami University’s enrollment has ballooned from 6,000 students to more than 16,000. In addition to this obvious need for more physical space, today’s students also need access to advanced technology, more group meeting space for curricular and co-curricular projects, and 24/7 support services to accommodate their round-the-clock lifestyles.

A. The Bicentennial Student Center will be more than a building. It will be a hub of campus life and a family room for Miami’s students to engage one another through class work, co-curricular organizations, and social interaction. It will be the FIRST and ONLY building at Miami designed solely for the students, and it will be a focal point of every student’s time at Miami.

A. As Miami strives to provide ‘The best undergraduate experience in the country,’ it must meet the needs of its students and provide new opportunities for engagement, leadership, and personal growth. This need has been most clearly expressed by the students themselves, with the last eight student body presidents passing resolutions supporting the construction of a student center. Presently the need for a dedicated student facility is resulting in other campus facilities, like King Library, becoming overcrowded.

A. While social interaction is an important element of college life, the Bicentennial Student Center will be far more than just a place to ‘hang out.’ It will include a two-story leadership center that will provide meeting rooms, works spaces, and lounge spaces for Miami’s more than 350 student organizations. In addition, the BSC will feature numerous group meeting and study rooms to accommodate the increasing number of group projects undertaken in the classroom. Of course, the BSC also will include food service areas and spaces for recreation and social interaction that are in high demand on campus.