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News & Events

Office of College Communications
Phone 757.455.3366
Fax 757.461.4944

 

Living & Learning Communities

Freshmen students will experience an integrated academic, co-curricular and social experience at Virginia Wesleyan College.

In the fall of 2008, Virginia Wesleyan College will offer two exciting opportunities for freshmen students wanting an integrated academic, co-curricular and social experience.

Called Living & Learning Communities, the College has created two communities in which students will live together, study and take two courses together each semester. Both communities are open to students interested in pursuing any major.

The first community, American Politics Community, will consist of 16 freshmen enrolled in the same First Year Seminar and Introduction to American Politics courses during the fall semester. The students will immerse themselves in the study of presidential elections, examining the candidates and issues and attending political events.  In the spring of 2009, the students will take a social and political philosophy course and either a political science global realities course or a state and local government class. Students in this coed community will reside in Johnston Hall (Village II).

Associate Dean for Special Academic Projects Debbie Hicks said the American Politics Community ranked number two in a survey conducted by the College. For the survey, the College polled this year's freshmen class, giving them a list of 20 topics to choose from in which they would have been interested in living and learning with other peers as entering students.  

"We decided to go with this community because it's an election year with numerous critical issues, and a natural for integrating classroom learning with out-of-class discussions and activities," said Hicks. "There will be both on and off campus activities related to the topic."

The second community, PORTfolio Civic Engagement Community, is a subset of the PORTfolio Program at Virginia Wesleyan that celebrated its 10-year anniversary in January 2008. 

Students accepted into the PORTfolio program can apply to live in this community where they will engage in activities that promote a sense of civic responsibility. They will complete 100-level PORTfolio courses during the fall semester. In the spring of 2009, the students will take a PORTfolio liberal arts seminar course and either a political science global realities course or a state and government class. This coed community will also house 16 freshmen and the students will reside in East Hall (Village II). 

The application deadline for students interested in a Living & Learning Community is Thursday, May 1.

"Living and Learning Communities transform the educational experience so that intellectual inquiry and debate are as likely to occur beyond as within the classroom," said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Dr. Timothy O'Rourke. "Students will examine topics more fully, engage one another more frequently, and think more deeply because Living and Learning Communities create boundless opportunities for interaction with each other, participating faculty and outside experts."

Hicks explained the idea of Living & Learning Communities surfaced from an ACT Retention Study showing that private colleges with a high percentage of student retention had several success qualities, and Living & Learning Communities was one of those qualities.

The College currently has three interest halls on campus including an International Hall, a Wellness Hall and a Honors and Scholars Hall.  All students within these interest halls reside in Village II.

For future years the College is considering a Creative Arts Community for students who are interested in self-expression through a creative form such as art, music, theatre, or writing.

"The concept of Living & Learning Communities as a whole has worked really well on other college campuses," said Hicks. "We want students to be committed to Virginia Wesleyan and get faculty and staff involved in this endeavor."

For more information on Living & Learning Communities at Virginia Wesleyan, contact Debbie Hicks at 757.455.3338 or dlhicks@vwc.edu.

02.27.08