Spring Break
NT housing features REAL Communities
Holly Dutton
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: NEWS
A new housing program aimed at increasing academic achievement lets students choose to live in major-specific dorms this fall.
The Residents Engaged in Academic Living Communities program includes specially designated wings in Clark Hall for biology majors, Kerr Hall for communication design majors and Bruce Hall for jazz studies majors.
The program is a "living-learning" community that intends to help students become more immersed in their major and meet and work with others in their major, said Jon Bartlett, of the housing and resident life department, in an e-mail.
It also offers special opportunities and chances to meet members of the faculty in each major, he added.
"This is a chance for students to have a built-in support system for difficult classes," Bartlett said.
The areas of study were picked after a research sampling showed those three majors held the highest percentages of incoming freshmen, said Tiffany Roussel, assistant director for NT housing business operations.
Bartlett said the classes are "very difficult and students are weeded out very quickly," adding that the communities are open to students of any classification, but the program is primarily intended to help first-year freshmen succeed in their classes.
Special programs offered include symposiums and field trips that deal with each major, Bartlett said.
"The whole goal with REAL Communities is academic success and student retention," Bartlett said.
Los Frenos senior Robin Gordon said she doubts the program because it could rob those residents of diverse ideas.
"I liked having a roommate that was a different major, and a benefit to living with someone in a different major is talking and sharing ideas," Gordon said. "I could teach someone who didn't know as much about art more about it."
Bartlett said while he is aware of the pros and cons of same-major students living together, he believes it will only add to the college experience.
"I don't think it will ruin diversity but add to the appeal of each dorm," Bartlett said. "It's something that will bring residents together and get them involved."
Laura Fitzgerald, McKinney junior, said she likes the idea of the program.
"They're in the same programs and study groups, and they can springboard off an integrated environment so they can really learn their majors and have networking connections," Fitzgerald said. "I'd like to see it for my major."
Bartlett, with other members of the Housing and Resident Life Department, worked on the program for months. The concept of same-major communities is a not a new idea, he said.
"We had to figure out what would benefit students most," Bartlett said. "It's been around since the 16th century," Bartlett said, citing similar concepts of living-learning communities in place at Oxford and other European universities. "We're trying to recreate that."
Housing and Residence Life Department officials look to install six more communities by fall 2008, Bartlett said, but the majors have yet to be chosen.
The Residents Engaged in Academic Living Communities program includes specially designated wings in Clark Hall for biology majors, Kerr Hall for communication design majors and Bruce Hall for jazz studies majors.
The program is a "living-learning" community that intends to help students become more immersed in their major and meet and work with others in their major, said Jon Bartlett, of the housing and resident life department, in an e-mail.
It also offers special opportunities and chances to meet members of the faculty in each major, he added.
"This is a chance for students to have a built-in support system for difficult classes," Bartlett said.
The areas of study were picked after a research sampling showed those three majors held the highest percentages of incoming freshmen, said Tiffany Roussel, assistant director for NT housing business operations.
Bartlett said the classes are "very difficult and students are weeded out very quickly," adding that the communities are open to students of any classification, but the program is primarily intended to help first-year freshmen succeed in their classes.
Special programs offered include symposiums and field trips that deal with each major, Bartlett said.
"The whole goal with REAL Communities is academic success and student retention," Bartlett said.
Los Frenos senior Robin Gordon said she doubts the program because it could rob those residents of diverse ideas.
"I liked having a roommate that was a different major, and a benefit to living with someone in a different major is talking and sharing ideas," Gordon said. "I could teach someone who didn't know as much about art more about it."
Bartlett said while he is aware of the pros and cons of same-major students living together, he believes it will only add to the college experience.
"I don't think it will ruin diversity but add to the appeal of each dorm," Bartlett said. "It's something that will bring residents together and get them involved."
Laura Fitzgerald, McKinney junior, said she likes the idea of the program.
"They're in the same programs and study groups, and they can springboard off an integrated environment so they can really learn their majors and have networking connections," Fitzgerald said. "I'd like to see it for my major."
Bartlett, with other members of the Housing and Resident Life Department, worked on the program for months. The concept of same-major communities is a not a new idea, he said.
"We had to figure out what would benefit students most," Bartlett said. "It's been around since the 16th century," Bartlett said, citing similar concepts of living-learning communities in place at Oxford and other European universities. "We're trying to recreate that."
Housing and Residence Life Department officials look to install six more communities by fall 2008, Bartlett said, but the majors have yet to be chosen.
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