Snow, smiles welcome students back for spring term
With plenty of events, academics and additions, TU is ready to ring in the new year
By Henry Basta and Kyle Hobstetter on January 30, 2022
As thousands of students returned to Towson University’s campus for the start of the spring term, sophomore Oneliys Diaz admitted that she asked the Office of Housing and Residence Life if she could move back earlier.
The New Jersey native and Douglass House resident assistant said she missed the campus atmosphere.
“I really like the vibe of campus, and seeing everyone go about their business is really fun,” Diaz says. “I didn’t get to experience the campus community my freshman year, so a full year on campus is giving me a good glimpse of the college experience.”
TU President Kim Schatzel was on campus Saturday, welcoming students before she went to SECU Arena to cheer on the men’s basketball team in its 66-62 win over Drexel.
“We’re preparing the next generation of leaders, and I’m excited students are back on campus,” she says.
There were some new faces on Saturday too, like Mora Perl, who transferred from a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. As a native of Towson, Perl was eager to return home and begin her studies at a university with so much to offer.
“I’m anxious and excited because this is so much bigger than my previous school,” she says. “I came to camp here as a kid, and, as I walked through campus [today], I got a little nostalgic. But it’s so different; I like the facilities, the renovations and everything TU has to offer.”
TU comes back to life
TU is ready to provide students with plenty to do during the spring term.
“There are so many opportunities to get engaged and really take advantage of what TU has to offer,” says Schatzel. “That’s why before each term I tell students to get engaged, join a club, talk with your faculty.
“That’s what sets Towson University apart. There are opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, club sports, hundreds of student organizations. There are plenty of ways for students to take advantage of everything Towson University has to offer.”
One way to do that is to check out the Spring Involvement Fair. Held on Wednesday, Feb. 9, in the University Union, the fair connects students with hundreds of on-campus organizations.
Another is to attend athletic events. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are having incredible seasons. The women’s team had the best start in school history and is in the top half of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) standings. The men’s basketball team is second in the CAA after knocking off last year’s champion Drexel on Saturday, Jan. 29.
The Office of Student Activities is offering fun events throughout the term like Tigerfest and TU After Hours, which holds its first event on Friday, Feb. 4, in the University Union Ballrooms with comedian Ronnie Jordan.
Campus updates
The University Union expansion is nearing its completion with the addition of the Union Food Market. The Union Food Market brings seven food vendors to help extend the TU community's dining options, including a full-service Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’.
The Union is the most frequently-used building on Towson University’s campus, housing student activities, student group and meeting space and retail and dining options used by the entire campus community.
TU recently completed the first of a two-phase construction project transforming the University Union. Among the additions that have been completed, or will be completed within the next year include:
- double the space for student activities and organizations
- A 300-seat auditorium/movie theatre
- relocated and expanded Career Center
- a new 15,000-square-foot ballroom
- new spaces for Student Life, Design + Graphic Services, Civic Engagement and Enrollment Marketing.
"It’s awesome to see the vision for the University Union come alive," says Vernon Hurte, vice president for student affairs. "Every time I walk through the Union, I’m excited by the sight of our students making it a wonderful destination for making connections and enjoying the resources and amenities available to them."
This past term, TU also broke ground on a new home for the College of Health Professions Building. The 240,000-square-foot structure on the north side of campus is estimated to cost $175 million and should be ready for summer 2024. The CHP Building is representing a significant investment in Towson University’s leadership in the health professions and its role as an anchor institution for greater Baltimore and Maryland.
TU is also reinvesting in the heart of the campus core with renovations of the Glen Towers residence halls. Consecutive renovations to the Towers will add new exteriors, windows, utility infrastructure and HVAC systems. All four Towers and the surrounding plaza will be completed by 2025.
TU’s health and safety protocols
Towson University is requiring KN95 masks in all classroom settings for the start of the spring term, and recommending them for all indoor settings on campus.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring their own KN95 masks. However, a supply of KN95 masks will be distributed at multiple locations on campus, including the information desks located on the second floor of the University Union and the first floor of West Village Commons.
Learn more about Towson University’s temporary COVID-19 masking protocols.