The University Centers is a financially self-supporting part of the Division of Student Affairs. Providing for basic needs that are vital to student success, the unit develops and implements a variety of involvement and leadership experiences, diversity and cultural growth initiatives, and community outreach. 

The University Centers provides services that are integral to campus life, including the undergraduate textbook rental program, the meal plan required for nearly all campus residents, and the official university ID card. The unit is responsible for all non-academic reservations on campus, ticketing of campus events, and licensing of university marks. The University Centers administers bookstore services, dining services and vending campuswide, manages all state-purchased off-campus printing in accordance with state law, and provides the central source of campus information.

Students are encouraged to actively engage in any number of activities including student organizations, administrative committees, leadership development, volunteer service, and participation in a diverse array of programs and events. These varying experiences help students to develop new skills, reflect on their personal identity and place in the world, and become engaged citizens.

The University Centers comprises three buildings — Davies Center, Hilltop Center and Crest Wellness Center — that serve as the community center for the campus. The unit is also responsible for Schofield Auditorium and Zorn Arena, multipurpose facilities that are frequently used for events.

Construction is under way on a new student center that will replace the current Davies Center, which opened in 1959. Like its predecessor, the new building will be named in memory of William R. Davies (1893–1959), the university's second president.