At some point, nearly every student at the UA is touched by programs sponsored by either the Student Union or the Department of Student Programs.

Until early January, the departments worked individually, but because of a recent merger, they will combine efforts to "better serve the student population," said Dan Adams, director of the Student Union.

This change has the directors of both departments "pleased and excited," said Dan Maxwell, director of student programs.

Earlier in January, Melissa Vito, dean of students, and Saundra Taylor, vice president of Student Affairs, conducted a budgetary review of the departments. It indicated that a merger between the Student Union and student programs would provide more efficient programming.

This merger creates a partnership that is expected to be "mutually beneficial," said Maxwell and Adams.

Maxwell described the change by saying the Student Union was an umbrella and each of the six departments represents a spoke under that umbrella.

Before the merger, the Student Union contained five departments: Administration Services and Contracts, Business Office, Building Maintenance and Operations, Concessions and Retail Operations, and Dining Services.

"I think that the combination of the departments will make both units stronger," Adams said. "The Student Union programs, services, and activities will be enhanced for greater service to the students."

The addition of the student programs will not change the current structure of the Student Union; however, the organization of the department may change in the future, Maxwell said.

The Department of Student Programs, which offers activities such as the Center for Off-Campus Students, University Activities Board, Greek Life, the Campus Connection newspaper and KAMP student radio, is strong on student participation and activities but works with a limited budget, Maxwell said.

According to the Spring 1995 program information report from the Department of Student Programs, a total of 225 programs are offered, with participation ranging from two members of the New Member Interfraternity Council to the 35,000 people reached by the Campus Connection newspaper.

By merging with the Student Union, student programs may receive more funding, which will provide "more flexibility for effective student service," and hopefully, Maxwell said, will help get more students involved in other Student Union programs.

"Across the country, in comparison, we're very lowly-funded, and now our fiscal limitations may be eased a bit," he said.

Next year's budgets for the Student Union and student programs have not been finalized, so the exact funding changes are still uncertain, said Tatiana Hladky, administrative assistant for student programs.

"A significant number of programs and services will now be focused into one administrative unit. This can only be beneficial to the students," Adams said.

"We feel very positive about this change. It's clear and easy to see the advantages to the students just because of the student involvement, whether in dining services or Greek Life."