Residential Learning Community Expectations
Where will the Residential Learning Communities be housed?
Most Residential Learning Communities will be comprised of between 8 and 20 students who show an intentional desire to live and learn around a common theme. 2008-2009 Residential Learning Communities will most likely be housed in Wightman Hall.
What are the benefits of joining a Residential Learning Community?
Besides having the opportunity to live and learn with other students who share a common interest, participating students will be exempt from the Housing Lottery, and each Residential Learning Community will be placed before the Lottery commences. Additionally, each Residential Learning Community will receive a small budget from the Office of Residence Life to aid in programming.
What are the minimum expectations required of each Residential Learning Community?
As each Residential Learning Community forms, community members will be asked to work together to create a set of shared goals and objectives. Each community will be asked to devise a plan outlining their specific interests, and what they hope to accomplish over the entire year. Community members will be given great latitude in designing their own community standards and expectations, but each Residential Learning Community will be held to a set of basic, minimum requirements:
- complete at least one community education program or event for members each month
- complete one program or event for the greater campus community each month
- regularly evaluate and assess progress towards community objectives and goals
- meet as a community weekly, and remain in regular communication with the RLC Coordinator
- meet with the faculty or staff advisor monthly in a community dialogue setting
- all community members must remain in good judicial standing with the College
Residential Learning Communities may propose alternative requirements that differ from the ones above, but these expectations will be used to judge whether community members are putting enough effort into, and receiving enough benefit from, participation in the community.
Residential Learning Communities are designed to be academic in nature, and not simply a social organization. The goals of the program include blending academic, residential and social experiences to enhance the education of community members and the campus as a whole. While every program or activity need not be strictly educational, each event should provide some opportunity for extra-curricular learning.
How will the Residential Learning Community program be structured?
Residential Learning Communities will be sponsored by the Office of Residence Life, and advised by a faculty or staff member who will serve at the main thematic advisor and an RLC Coordinator who will serve as the administrative and residential advisor.
The faculty or staff thematic advisor will help community members plan and shape the community's direction and objectives with regard to their specific theme. The faculty advisor will be available to share their particular knowledge and expertise, and to help ensure each Residential Learning Community is meeting their particular educational expectations. Community members are expected to actively seek the assistance and guidance of not only their individual faculty advisor, but all faculty members on campus.
The RLC Coordinator is a professional-level Residence Life staff member who will work with the the Residential Learning Communities between 10-20 hours each week. The RLC Coordinator will assist communities in meeting their individual expectations, and will serve as an administrative and residential advisor.
Resident Assistants (RAs) will be intentionally placed on floors with each Residential Learning Community and work closely with the community in programming for members and the greater campus community.
Each Residential Learning Community will be given a great deal of autonomy in planning and implementing their own programs and events, as well conducting and managing community affairs. The faculty advisor, RLC Coordinator and Resident Assistant exist to provide assistance and support, and to ensure each Residential Learning Community lives up to these expectations.
What will happen if a Residential Learning Community does not live up to these expectations?
In the case of a Residential Learning Community not living up to its obligations, the Office of Residence Life may impose the following sanctions:
- the budget for the Residential Learning Community may be suspended
- community members may lose standing in the following year’s Housing Lottery
- individual members or the entire community may be reassigned housing at any time during the year