Living and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition Residential Learning Communities

Presenters:Helen E. Moritz, Vice Provost for Undergraduate EducationJames W. Reites, S.J., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Faculty DirectorVicky S. Pasternak, Resident Director/Learning Community Facilitator

History and Background

Helen E. Moritz

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

History and Context

Early 90s: Theme Halls: Unity and Casa Italiana

1994: Freshman Residential Community– Option for 120 freshmen– Core courses in common– Integration of some course content– Faculty collaboration and involvement

SCU Strategic Initiative: Integrated Education

Provost Model: VPAA and VPSA combined

Corollaries: – Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education– Core Curriculum– University Honors Program – Integrated Advising Center– Student Records– Career Center– RLCs and Housing and Residence Life

Residential Learning Communities, continued

1994 Freshman Residential Community

1999 FRC becomes ALPHA

Additional RLC options for freshmen

2000 All freshmen enter University through an RLC

2002 All RLCs become multi-year

2003 9 RLCs total, 2+ four-year RLCs

??? 11 four-year 300-student RLCs

RLCs and Integrated Education

Breaking down silos

Structural: Faculty Director and Resident Director lead Leadership Team

Experiential: Faculty involvement in residence

Faculty directors, affiliated faculty, Faculty in Residence

Programmatic: Curriculum and Co-Curriculum

Student Ownership and Leadership: Community Facilitators and Councils

Model

“Residential”-- 90% of freshmen live on campus; commuters given access too.

“Learning”—Core Courses in common, study groups in halls, co-curricular activity

“Communities” – Students and Adults (potentially families)– Multi-year communities: upper-division and lower-division

students– Community Facilitators from within the RLC– Academic, social, spiritual

Institutionalization

Delivery of part of Core Curriculum

General courses, courses connected to theme

Integration into departmental course planning cycle

Integration into Summer Orientation– RLC assignment learned on arrival– Discussion of common reading in RLC group– Course selection and advising in RLC group– Community Conversations in RLC group– Meet faculty director and 1/6 of RLC freshmen

Mission, Vision and Values

James W. Reites, S.J.Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Faculty Director

RLCs And Jesuit Mission

Start with a vision of undergraduate education.

RLCs give life to the vision.

SCU Vision of UG Education

“Education of the whole person within the Catholic and Jesuit Tradition.”

Values.

The Aim of Santa Clara Education

Educate Men and Women for others

People of Competence

Conscience Compassion

Concerned not only with what is, but what should be

Cura Personalis

Expressions of Values

Community of Scholars

Integrated Education

Excellence

Challenging Minds

Inspiring Hearts

Transforming the World

RLCs and Mission

Communities

Of Integrated Learning

Of Vital Living

Santa Clara’s Way Of Fulfilling Its Vision of Integrated Education

Practical Application on Campus

Victoria S. Pasternak

Resident Director/Learning Community Facilitator

Composition of Community Staff

Leadership Team Structure– Collaborative leadership– Multiple adult role models and resources

Community Facilitator vs. Resident Assistant– Change in job responsibilities– Variation of roles among RLCs

Student Experiences

Common goals to further:– community building – student development

identity development moral and ethical

decision making vocational discernment critical thinking skills

Programming: A Full Community Effort

Resident Programming– RLC councils– Community Facilitators

Encouraged to program around RLC theme

Faculty/staff programming

Cross-RLC experiences– RLCrosscurrents– Spring Festival

Comprehensive Campus Shift

Cultivating and nurturing powerful partnerships– Professors for affiliated classes– Student organizations– Campus Offices

Faculty support

Positive changes in student behavior

Student Behavioral Changes– Discipline– Damage

Student Leadership

Community ownership

Assessment

2003 RLC Benchmark Survey– Value of courses in common – 79%– Participation – 8 times per quarter– Overall satisfaction – 69%– Perception of “limitation” (led to RLCrosscurrents)

2004 RLC Survey– Participation – 11 times per quarter– Overall satisfaction - 75%– Benefit of a multi-year community - increase of 19%

Costs and Funding

Incremental Costs:– Faculty Directors: one course release and

stipend– Faculty in Residence: free (and tax-free)

rent and utilities– Program Funds

Funding:– Historically, from Housing & Residence

Life– Future: University budget

Challenges

“Old”:– Breaking down silos, learning new roles– Resistance to the unknown– Getting faculty buy-in

Ongoing:– Sustainability of faculty involvement– Disparity of facilities– Better definition of student roles in 4-year communities

Santa Clara Residential Learning Communities

ALPHA: Art History, Literature, Philosophy and History Communitas: Explores themes of individualism, community and citizenship da Vinci: Explores interest in the natural world and sciences along with Italian

culture and heritage Delphi: Shared interests in arts and communication Education for a Sustainable Future: Looks at social and environmental

responsible in both personal and professional lives. Loyola: Explores issues of Faith and Justice Modern Perspectives: Looks at economic, political, and social issues central to

understanding our world at the start of the 21st century. Unity: Seeks a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity as a catalyst

for social and civic change. Xavier: Working in solidarity with community for social justice within a global

perspective

Question and Answer Period