Liz Mantush | staff writer

Old Main was originally constructed in 1885 to consolidate university functions into one building. Now, all student resources including admissions, financial aid, student accounts and registration have been consolidated into a One Stop Student Services Center located on the first floor of the centuries-old building.

The new space is part of the university’s First Impressions project, which is a part of Duquesne President Ken Gormley’s wish to heighten the student experience and foster their success.

“It’s about making sure key spaces on campus reflect the best of Duquesne and support student success,” said Gabe Welsch, vice president for marketing and communications.

The First Impressions project has led to renovations to the Fisher Skywalk and the second floor of the Student Union, which now includes a Student Success Central, a Meditation Room, The Rotary, a Tech Hub and Admissions Presentation Room.

“That starts with the university strategy of putting students at the front, at the core of everything, every decision we make and to rethink all our systems and processes,” said Joel Bauman, senior vice president for enrollment.

Old Main was originally a meeting place for students, with various offices scattered around the building. When a student was unsure where to go, they would be forced to visit different offices to find their final destination, Bauman said.

The One Stop Student Services Center allows students to check in and get the help they need all in one place. Some problems can be solved from the lobby, while others require a meeting with a representative from one of the departments.

“If you’re not sure where to go, you’re not sure where to begin, you can always start here, we’ll help you navigate the whole university system,” said Todd Eicker, executive director of student services.

The One Stop Student Services Center will help both students and their families to create a checklist of what needs to get done and where to get assistance with it, Bauman said. While all issues cannot be resolved within the facility, staff can point students in the right direction and develop a plan going forward.

The Office of Financial Aid gets many questions concerning different areas of student success, said Jennifer Burns, assistant vice president and director of financial aid and scholarships. She believes the center will provide a better experience for both the students and staff.

Burns said this will help the Office of Financial Aid to strengthen relationships with other departments within the center.

“We can communicate most effectively in this more open environment,” she said.

The new facility includes discussion rooms, which have privacy glass features to keep conversations between staff and students confidential. Discussion rooms also include TVs for virtual visits with student success coaches.

The space showcases the traditional Duquesne colors, and the design style goes along with other renovations that were a part of the First Impressions projects. All the artwork in the center is original work done by Duquesne faculty and alumni.

“It’s about feeling comfortable, feeling welcome and having the service come to you,” Bauman said.

As a part of Gormley’s student-centered initiative, student input was included in the design and function of the space. The previous administration of Student Government Association, and student workers within financial aid and admissions were consulted throughout the process.

Construction on the center began in May and was completed in November. A Grand Opening Ceremony will be held on the ground floor of Old Main Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. to celebrate the new addition.

Liz Mantush can be reached at mantushe@duq.edu