College’s new community hub opens
By Patrick L. Kennedy
After a long day of classes and lab work, scores of BU ENG students, along with faculty and staff, gathered to socialize, enjoy some pizza, and celebrate the grand opening of the Engineering Commons, the college’s new student-focused community hub. The fully renovated basement space is located at 44 Cummington Mall.
To a background soundtrack of hip-hop and dance music, students lounged in bean bag chairs or circulated throughout the room sharing fun facts about themselves and filling in boxes on an icebreaker bingo sheet. They won raffle prizes, made bracelets, snapped photos of each other wearing costume hats, checked out the displays from BU student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and met informally with Dean ad interim Elise Morgan and other ENG administrators. Close to 100 people visited the Commons over the course of the evening.
Building community
“It can be hard to build community in college,” says Unity Jean-Louis, ENG’s manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion. “This is a space where so many different people with different identities can be acknowledged and celebrated. It’s about supporting students holistically—making sure they’re supported academically, socially, and professionally.”
“A lot of students tell us they know about the University and College programs and support out there, but they’re not always sure how to access them, or they feel a little hesitant to reach out or join,” says ENG Assistant Dean for Outreach & Diversity Pamela Audeh. “Sometimes, there’s a real barrier, and other times, it’s just not knowing where to start. More often than not, it comes down to a sense of community—having access, building trust, and gaining the confidence to take that next step.
“That’s where the Engineering Commons comes in,” Audeh continues. “It’s not just a resource; it’s a fun, welcoming space to meet new people, hang out with friends, get support, and be part of student-designed events that make the college experience even better.”
With tables, comfy chairs, and monitors with webinar capabilities, the room serves as a combination student lounge, study hall, and programming space. Along with “Munchkin Mondays” and “Cookies and Conversation,” there are regular tutoring sessions, game nights, study abroad info sessions, and professional and career development workshops.
Study and unwind
Nilly Rodriguez Suarez (ENG’27), a student desk assistant at the Commons, says that between classes and part-time jobs—and sometimes shyness—not every student makes it to faculty office hours for help. Now, they can seek answers from fellow students in a convenient, low-pressure setting. “If you don’t understand something, you can come here after classes, and there’s a great likelihood of someone knowing the material, because we’re all in engineering and have core foundational information we all learn,” she says. “It’s also a place you can unwind, and everyone needs that.”
Highlights in the coming month include a vision board making event on Wednesday, March 5th, and a trivia night on Wednesday, March 26th.
The Engineering Commons is located at 44 Cummington Mall, Room B14.
