History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 104

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In 2004, Dave Kratzer left the union director position to become the Associate
Vice President for Student Affairs, and in 2012, Kratzer became Vice President
for Student Affairs.
In 2005, Eddie Daniels was named Executive Director of the Reitz Union. The
organizational structure of the Reitz Union changed dramatically in subsequent
years. In 2006, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs was moved from
reporting to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to the Reitz
Union. Shortly thereafter, the Center for Student Activities and Involvement
was created to combine student activities, student involvement (including
Student government), and sorority and fraternity affairs functions. In 2012, a
reorganization within the Division of Student Affairs included recognizing the
Center for Student Activities and Involvement as a separate department from
the Reitz Union reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs. At the same
time, the J. Wayne Reitz Union moved to the supervision of the Associate Vice
President for Student Affairs, Auxillary Operations.
“ M a k e I t R e i t z ”: A M a jo r R e n o vat i o n / E x p a n s i o n
P r oj e c t
In 2009, because of growing concerns about aging infrastructure and extensive
deferred maintenance issues as well as inadequate space to meet the needs of
the then current student population, planning began for a major renovation/
expansion of the Reitz Union building. The project, later to be labeled
“MakeItReitz,” was initiated and advanced in large part because of active
student support. The $83 million project was funded through a $50 million
bond paid by Student Activity and Services Fees, $18.4 million from the Capital
Improvement Trust Fund (CITF), $ 5 million from Student Affairs reserve funds,
and $6.7 million from a performance contract with Trane Industries, and $5
million from departments with renovation projects in the Reitz Union.
The renovation/expansion project included a 123,500 square feet expansion,
and renovation of 92,000 square feet of the existing building. The expansion
and renovation project added a four-story central atrium to the building,
provided additional student organization office, storage, and collaboration
space, additional student lounge and study space, dance rehearsal studios for
student groups, renovation of the Rion Ballroom, updated meeting rooms, a
meditation room with ablution space, expanded food court seating, and a new
Orange and Brew facility. As part of the expansion, the Center for Leadership

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