Living and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition Residential

Living and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition Residential Learning Communities Presenters: Helen E. Moritz, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education James W. Reites, S. J. , Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Faculty Director Vicky S. Pasternak, Resident Director/Learning Community Facilitator

History and Background Helen E. Moritz Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

History and Context = Early 90 s: 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 through an RLC = 2002 All RLCs become multi- = 2003 9 RLCs total, 2+ four-year University 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 Residence Faculty directors, affiliated faculty, Faculty in = 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 lowerdivision 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 Santa Clara’s Way Of Fulfilling Its Vision of Integrated Education =Communities =Of Integrated Learning =Of Vital Living

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 21 st century. = Unity: Seeks a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity as a catalyst for social and civic change.

Question and Answer Period