Executive Summary:

The Trinity Commons initiative will transform an under-utilized space at Trinity Western University into the hub of Student Life activity on campus. The revitalized space will help the Student Life division realize its mission to invite all students to connect, thrive, and serve in a Christ-centered learning environment. The Trinity Commons will become a primary point of connection to the campus community for under-served commuter, international, and part-time students.

Stronger Together is committed to supporting innovative programs that find new solutions to existing problems. That is what we will achieve if we are successful with the Trinity Commons. This initiative was birthed out of extensive consultation with Trinity Western students over the past two years. A survey of 600+ commuter students showed that there was a group of students at Trinity Western who frequented the current atrium and library spaces and were not naturally connected to other parts of campus. These students were mainly commuters, part-time, and international students. Retention surveys showed this group were the most vulnerable to drop-out or transfer to another institution. Their numbers continue to grow as Trinity Western becomes more global, serves more part-time learners, and cannot meet the demand for on-campus housing. We needed to find a new but cost-effective way to reach them.

In response, we embraced an idea from current student leaders, and our Director of Community Life, to re-design and re-purpose the current 5026 square foot atrium in Reimer Student Centre. The space has long been under-utilized and is often shut down for various University events. It will have a distinctive West Coast coffee house vibe and will include new furniture, long wooden work tables, flooring, ceiling, lighting, a movable stage, automated slide doors, a sound system, a welcome desk, and a fireplace area. It will be open 24-7 and hosted by student leaders and will prioritize events for students. It’s design (attached in this proposal) borrows from Trinity Western’s innovative collegial model but it will be available for use by the entire University community of 4400+ students and 750+ staff and faculty.

Designs for the proposed space are complete. Construction will take place between May and July 2020 and the Trinity Commons will open to students in September 2020. Anticipated outcomes include increased student retention among commuter students, increased use of the space by students, staff, and faculty, and improved connection for vulnerable students to campus services and support programs. We will target 1500 individual visits/month and 150 students/year will be better connected to the campus as a direct result of our student hosts.

The total project will cost $285,000. Trinity Western has committed $165,000 (see budget for more details). We are excited to invite Stronger Together partners to partner on this important initiative through a one-time grant of $120,000.

Measurable Outcomes:

1. By September 2020, the current Atrium space in Reimer Student Centre will transform into a vibrant campus hub called the Trinity Commons and serve an average of 1500 students, staff, and faculty per month.
2. By April 2021, The Trinity Commons will support at least 150 targeted commuter students/year to find relevant campus services and opportunities so they can connect, thrive, and serve in our Christ-centered learning community.
3. From September 2020 to September 2021, the Trinity Commons will help increase student retention with targeted commuter students (and especially international students) by 5%, for a projected $500,000 ROI/year ($1,500,000+ over three years).

*Content provided by Trinity Western University