FAU ranked 20th in “most phenomenal” student unions nationally

In a list of 51 student unions and campus centers, FAU ranks in the top half.

Photo by Mohammed F Emran

Brittany Ferrendi, Freatures Editor

At Florida Atlantic University’s student union, you can play billiards, grab a snack or check out the events at the in-house theater. Now, all this and more has put FAU on the list of the “most phenomenal” student unions in the United States.

FAU made the No. 20 spot on a list by EDsmart — a ranking service and planning resource for colleges and universities. According to the service’s website, the rank is based on building architecture, visual appeal, facilities, student services and more.

“The Student Union of FAU core values include creating and maintaining a comfortable place where all individuals can meet and enjoy one another,” reads EDsmart’s review of the student union. “It also sustains learning and providing excellent service by being involved in all programs.”

The purpose of the rankings is to serve as a guide for prospective students choosing universities based on publicly available data.

Other Florida student unions, such as those at Florida State University, the University of Florida and the University of North Florida also made the list. The highest on the list was UF at No. 13.

Last year, FAU ranked No. 14 on the “30 Most Amazing Student Unions” list by Best College Values, another website that hosts information for university-aspiring students.

FAU’s student union first opened its doors in 1972, and has been revamped to include amenities such as the Atlantic Dining Hall, the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium and several conference rooms. Last year, the school underwent renovations to expand the dining hall.

For more information on other universities that made the cut, check out the rankings here.

Brittany Ferrendi is the features editor of the University Press. If you would like to contact her regarding this or other stories, she can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter.