Book excerpt: The college union is the living room and community center for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors, and serves as a learning laboratory for students through employment, engagement, and leadership opportunities. Senior-level administrators and college union professionals need to be aware of the trends and issues facing college unions in the 21st century. This volume addresses implications for college unions of changing: Student characteristics Student engagement Facility design and the creation of community Fundraising Technology Globalization of higher education. In addition, this volume explores the need for additional assessment, evaluation, and research for this important component of college campuses. This is the 145th volume of this Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly series. An indispensable resource for vice presidents of student affairs, deans of students, student counselors, and other student services professionals, New Directions for Student Services offers guidelines and programs for aiding students in their total development: emotional, social, physical, and intellectual.