COU Categories

Category 1: Classroom Facilities

A room primarily used for scheduled teaching purposes which does not require special equipment of a kind that makes the room unsuitable for classroom instruction (ie, laboratory benches) and rooms directly serving such facilities.

Category 2: Laboratory - Undergraduate

A room used for instruction of undergraduate students that requires special purpose equipment or is so arranged that use is restricted to a particular field of study; and rooms directly serving these facilities.  Activities in these facilities would include student participation, experimentation, observation or practice in a field of study.

Category 3: Research Laboratory Space (Graduate & Faculty)

A room used for laboratory applications, research or training in research methodology which requires special-purpose equipment for staff or graduate student experimentation or observation and preparation, service and other rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 4: Academic Departmental Offices And Related Space

A room usually assigned to one or more individuals on a permanent basis, containing office-type equipment and used by faculty, departmental administrative and support staff, and students, or a room directly serving these facilities.  Also included are general purpose offices and project rooms used for the conducting of research may have previously been reported in category 3.

Category 5: Library Facilities And Campus Study Space

A room or group of rooms used for the acquisition, processing, storage, circulation, administration and management of books, periodicals, manuscripts and other media of published information under the administration of the university library system and rooms directly serving these facilities.  Also included are rooms or group of rooms used for study whether or not under the administration of the university library system.

Category 6: Recreation/Athletic Space

All indoor areas used by students, staff, or the public for athletic activities, either for recreational or competitive purposes, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 7: Food Service

A room or group of rooms used for preparing or eating food or which directly serve these facilities including central facilities located in residences and faculty clubs, whether operated by the University or an external company.

Category 8: Bookstore And Other Merchandising Facilities

A room or group of rooms used to sell products or services, exclusively or primarily for the university population, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 9: Plant Maintenance

Space associated with the operation and maintenance of university buildings, grounds, vehicles and other elements of the physical plant.

Category 10: Central Administrative Office And Related Space

A room usually assigned to one or more individuals on a permanent basis containing office-type equipment and used by central administrative and support staff in non-academic departments/faculties/divisions, or a room directly serving these facilities.

Category 11: Audio-Visual/Television Facilities

A room or group of rooms used in the production, distribution and storage of non-print instructional media, and rooms directly serving these facilities, providing campus-wide rather than exclusively departmental services.

Category 12: Central Services

A room or group of rooms used to provide campus-wide services for both academic and non-academic sections of the university, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 13: Health Service Facilities

A room or group of rooms intended to supply health services primarily to the general university population, and rooms directly serving these physical and wellness services facilities.

Category 14: Common Use And Student Activity Space

A room or group of rooms accessible to the general university population intended for recreation, rest, or relaxation, or rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 15: Assembly and Exhibition Facilities

A room or group of rooms intended to serve the general university population and to be used for dramatic, musical, or devotional activities or for exhibition purposes, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

Category 16: Non-Assignable Space

A room or area that is not available for assignment to the occupants of a building but which is necessary for the general occupation or mechanical support of one or a number of buildings.

Category 17: Residential Space

A room or rooms used to accommodate one or more individuals and the ancillary areas in direct support of such rooms.

Category 18: Animal Space

Animal facilities in overall support of teaching or research and not normally integrated with or under the control of academic departments.

Category 19: Other University Facilities

Any room or area not included in Categories 1 through 18.

Category 20: Health Science Clinical Facilities ("Z Formula")

Space owned or operated by the university that is used in direct support of teaching and research related to clinical instruction, ie the clinical disciplines of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.