36 | INSIGHT: UNIVERSIT Y DOWNTIME | CAMPUS SERVICES
W:
www.universitybusiness.co.uk | T: @UB_UK
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
ABOVE: The Texas Union building hosts a number of events RIGHT: The Whitaker Field youth camps
vacation periods creates employment for some 250 full- time staff and a further 500 casual employees. Most of these are our own students seeking employment to help fund their time here.” The University is situated in the historic city of
Canterbury, a popular destination for both British and international tourists. With such an influx of visitors every summer, the local guest houses struggle to cope with the demand – and for the University of Kent, that was an opportunity too good to miss. “We are becoming increasingly popular as B&B accommodation, and particularly our newest double rooms, which are similar in standard to the popular budget hotel chains,” continues Stuckey. “Our current guest-review rating on
www.booking.com is 8.1 – that’s higher than many hotels.” Another benefit to being such a forward-thinking
university – and one that plays an integral role within its community – is that it might just encourage more people to study there. This is something that the University of Texas at Austin has discovered after opening its doors during the summer months to students from across the state, who take part in everything from ballet camp to educational programmes. “The University of Texas at Austin is in the heart of
Texas, both physically and emotionally,” elaborates Joshua Cook, Assistant Director of Communications. “Inviting so many people to come onto campus and take part in the UT Austin experience only makes us all stronger. We find that many children and teenagers who atend events or camps during the summer catch the Longhorns' spirit [the Longhorns is a coloquial name given to the University, and in particular its sporting
teams]. That gets them more excited about atending our events and potentially going to college here. Overall, it often leads to a life-long support of the University.” In all of these cases, there’s a real sense of community
spirit at work, with strong relationships being built between the universities and their local populace. And the universities’ public image can only be enhanced yet further if they use local businesses to help cater for their events – something the University of Texas at Austin does as a mater of principle. “Between our residence halls and the historic Texas
Union, we offer tens of thousands of square feet of meeting space for professional organisations,” continues Joshua Cook. “All of those groups are supported by our world-class catering and dining facilities, which source an increasing amount of their produce from right here in central Texas.” If all of that sounds like a daunting challenge and has you dreaming of a sandy beach in Honolulu, bear in mind that the extent to which you exploit your facilities is in your own hands. Even the smallest venture – the leasing of a sports hall or the leting of a few rooms to exchange students – can pay dividends. The choice is yours: school’s out or cash in. UB
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