UM System President Tim Wolfe announced Wednesday that Providence Point, which system presidents have called home for the last 40 years, will become open to the public to host events and meetings.

UM System spokesman John Fougere said the venue has both indoor and outdoor spaces that are capable of hosting up to 250 people.

According to a [brochure](https://uminfopoint.umsystem.edu/media/president/ProvidencePoint/providence_point_brochure.pdf) for the venue, university-affiliated groups would pay $600 to host events with fewer than 50 guests and $750 if they exceed 50 guests, while external groups would pay $750 and $1,200, respectively.

“It was an ongoing discussion after the president expressed his desire to have his family live in a more traditional home,” Fougere said. “We are hoping that the public will capitalize on Providence Point’s unique features. It’s a different type of setting.”

With over 700 student organizations on campus, finding a space for events and meetings can be difficult.

Chelsea Fricker, Department of Student Activities director, said even though the department typically does not have problem finding space on campus, [Jesse Hall’s renovation](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/6/3/jesse-and-swallow-halls-close-while-renovations-ta/) has made event planning more of a challenge.

Fricker said Providence Point is not only elegant, but also a versatile venue, which is a factor that sets the venue apart from other locations on campus.

She said she hopes to use the venue for upscale events in the future.

“If the right event occurs, we would certainly be able to use it,” Fricker said. “We would have to make sure to put the right event there, in respect to Providence Point’s historical value … using the venue would be a cool opportunity, since opportunities like this normally don’t come around.”