UA faculty get involved with residential life
Leanna Payton
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Lifestyles
Throughout the year, University Housing officials have worked on various ways to include faculty members in residence halls to benefit students who live on campus.
One of the programs - Learning Teams - groups students who are enrolled in the same classes and live in the same residence halls. Many engineering, business and pre-medical majors live and take classes with the same people, and faculty members conduct study sessions in those students' residence halls to help with coursework.
"It helps bridge the gap between your academic life and your social life," said Kerri Smith, a specialist for first-year academic initiatives for University Housing.
In one event, a faculty member played a game of Operation with a group of pre-medical majors.
"When you create relationships with faculty, it helps if you're struggling in a class - it gives you that support system," Smith said. "It creates connections so you're not scared to go to faculty."
University officials also have developed the C.O.R.E. prgoram (Community, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence). Smith oversees the program, which occurs in Maple Hill East and Futrall Hall.
The Faculty Associates Program is within the C.O.R.E. organization and is a group of 12 faculty members who create events in those residence halls for students to attend.
"The faculty gets excited to work with students in a different venue," Smith said.
Earlier in the year, a music professor took a group of 35 residents to the Malco Theater to see a live showing of an opera.
"There's an obvious meaning for the programs. There's a legit purpose for them instead of just throwing a program together," said Alex Kelch, a senior resident assistant in Maple Hill East.
In another event, a business professor took students to see "Drum Line" at the Walton Arts Center and discussed with them the culture of primarily black colleges compared to the culture at the UA.
Other events have included yoga classes, CPR classes and movie nights.
"It helps students explore different topics of interest outside their major and creates a connection with the faculty outside of class to help with the comfort level. It's still growing, and we're excited to have a large number of faculty participating," Smith said.
"The goal is to let students know faculty are people," Kelch said. "It's imperative to get to know your faculty members to have a good college experience."
One of the programs - Learning Teams - groups students who are enrolled in the same classes and live in the same residence halls. Many engineering, business and pre-medical majors live and take classes with the same people, and faculty members conduct study sessions in those students' residence halls to help with coursework.
"It helps bridge the gap between your academic life and your social life," said Kerri Smith, a specialist for first-year academic initiatives for University Housing.
In one event, a faculty member played a game of Operation with a group of pre-medical majors.
"When you create relationships with faculty, it helps if you're struggling in a class - it gives you that support system," Smith said. "It creates connections so you're not scared to go to faculty."
University officials also have developed the C.O.R.E. prgoram (Community, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence). Smith oversees the program, which occurs in Maple Hill East and Futrall Hall.
The Faculty Associates Program is within the C.O.R.E. organization and is a group of 12 faculty members who create events in those residence halls for students to attend.
"The faculty gets excited to work with students in a different venue," Smith said.
Earlier in the year, a music professor took a group of 35 residents to the Malco Theater to see a live showing of an opera.
"There's an obvious meaning for the programs. There's a legit purpose for them instead of just throwing a program together," said Alex Kelch, a senior resident assistant in Maple Hill East.
In another event, a business professor took students to see "Drum Line" at the Walton Arts Center and discussed with them the culture of primarily black colleges compared to the culture at the UA.
Other events have included yoga classes, CPR classes and movie nights.
"It helps students explore different topics of interest outside their major and creates a connection with the faculty outside of class to help with the comfort level. It's still growing, and we're excited to have a large number of faculty participating," Smith said.
"The goal is to let students know faculty are people," Kelch said. "It's imperative to get to know your faculty members to have a good college experience."
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