Residential learning communities allow the Office of Housing and Residence Life to partner with faculty and staff to provide a dynamic living and learning experience for residential students.
Residential learning communities are developed with the goal of enhancing students’ academic and co-curricular experience. Those students residing and actively engaging in a residential learning community have shown higher retention rates, more timely progression towards a degree, have higher GPAs, and have been more challenged to improve basic skills.
Communities include:
Westover Honors College Community for First Year Students
Located in Montgomery Hall, 5th floor (Co-Ed Community)
A community housing first year students engaged in the Westover Honors College. Programming will focus on transition to college, academic achievement, study hours, and personal wellness and development. Upperclass Westover students will engage and serve as mentors to first year students in this community.
Events for the community include weekly scheduled study time, peer review workshops, student selected programs with assorted faculty members, collaborative programs with outside departments, movie screenings, and current events discussions.
Community Coordinator: Dr. Ed DeClair, Director of Westover Honors College
Dimensions of Diversity Community for First Year Students
Located in Montgomery Hall, 1st floor (Gender Inclusive Community)
The purpose of the Dimensions of Diversity residential learning community is to create an innovative environment that upholds and fosters values of acceptance, inclusion, and equity among persons from various backgrounds, beliefs, and philosophies where they can connect and share diverse academic and cultural experiences. Opportunities will be incorporated into the framework of the community for shared dialogues, excursions, and educational explorations in order to solidify a multicultural experience for all residents.
Events include book clubs, monthly cultural dinners, special speakers and discussions, film screenings, and trips to museums and attractions off campus.
Community Coordinator: Annette Stadtherr, Director of Multicultural Services
Keeping Our Faith Community for First Year Students
Located in Tate Hall, 3rd Floor (Co-Ed Community)
First-year students who identify as Christian will meet for Bible study, worship and service in an intentionally Christian environment geared toward a faithful and successful first year. Attention will be given to the theoretical and practical implications of hospitality, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Events for the community include one on one coaching, common reading, regular Bible study meetings, collaborative programs with faculty and staff to share their leadership/vocation discernment journeys with students, visits to local community churches, and more!
Community Coordinators: Stephanie McLemore, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations for Spiritual Life and Katrina Brooks, Assistant Chaplain for Spiritual Life
Academic and Career Exploration for Upperclass Students (A.C.E.)
Located in New Residence Hall, 1st floor (Gender Inclusive Community)
The Academic and Career Exploration (A.C.E) community purpose is to help provide second-year (SY) students with the opportunity to explore their academic and professional purpose. Students will participate in activities, workshops, and events designed to help them clarify their academic/career goals, provide them with skills to be a successful student and professional, and to explore opportunities in the community. Students will also be tasked with completing a group project where they will identify a problem on campus or in the community, develop a solution, and implement that solution. This experience will provide students with an experiential learning experience, while also having them develop their critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Events for the community include resume and Linked In workshops, developing a project to address a community need, monthly community dinners, speaker series with faculty, staff, and local community members, site visits to local businesses, and more!
Community Coordinators: Jonathan Fries, Director of Second Year Programs and Brennan Gourley, Programming and Advising Coordinator for Second Year Programs
Spiritual Wellness and Mindfulness Community for Upperclass Students
Located in New Residence Hall, 2nd floor (Gender Inclusive Community)
The Spiritual Wellness and Mindfulness Residential Learning Community allows second year students the opportunity to explore personal and spiritual rhythms that can decrease stress and anxiety, increase the ability to have a well-balanced life, learn self-care and patterns of easeful living, develop healthy patterns of technology and social media use, and experience communal support and accountability by peers and staff. Targeted programming will allow students to focus on areas of either meditation and yoga and/or contemplative spiritual practices. Open to all students with spiritual curiosity, open-mindedness, and desire to live with peace, regardless of religious tradition or experience.
Events include weekly opportunities for yoga and meditation, silent and spiritual retreats, special speakers and demonstrations, film screenings and discussions, and hiking and day trips off campus.
Community Coordinators: Dr. Steve Dawson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Nathan Albert, Associate Chaplain for Spiritual Life
Westover Honors College Community for Upperclass Students
Located in New Residence Hall, 3rd floor (Gender Inclusive Community)
A community housing second year students engaged in the Westover Honors College. Programming will focus on continued academic achievement, study hours, peer-reviewed workshops, student selected faculty chats, and more. Students in this community will serve as mentors to first year students within the Westover Honors community.
Events for the community include weekly scheduled study time, Westover Mentor Program to pair second year Westover fellows with first year Westover fellows, peer review workshops, current events discussions, and organized movie, game, and sports nights.
Community Coordinator: Dr. Ed DeClair, Director of Westover Honors College
