A student center is a type of building found on university and some high school campuses. In the United States, such a building may also be called a student union, student commons, or union. The term "student union" refers most often in the United States to a building, while in other nations a "students' union" is the student government. Nevertheless, the Association of College Unions International has several hundred campus organizational members in the US; there is no sharp dichotomy in interpretation of union in this context. The US usage in reference to a location is simply a shortened form of student union building.
Student Activity Center on the campus of Texas Tech University
Photograph of Houston Hall of University of Pennsylvania taken in 1896, the year the student center was opened.
The first student activity center in America was Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania
The William Pitt Union as the Schenley Hotel
A students' union or student union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizational activities, representation, and academic support of the membership.
A students' union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center.
Former building of the Queen's University Belfast Students' Union
Glasgow University Union was the last students' union in the UK to begin admitting women.
