Indiana State University: Residential Life

Academic Partnerships

Goals for Residential Life Faculty Partner Programs

Programmatic Goals

To create opportunities for students to interact with faculty outside-the-classroom.
To create informal mentoring opportunities between faculty, Residential Life Staff, and first year students.
To facilitate relationship building between faculty, Residential Life Staff, and student so that students are more comfortable seeking assistance.
To engage students in learning outside-the-classroom by providing a variety of programs and events geared both directly related to course work and to life skills which will enable them to create more successful habits as a student and develop more community based citizenship behaviors.
To encourage collaborative partnerships between residence hall staff and faculty partners within each community to better focus student outreach and assist in residential student success.
To create opportunities for staff and faculty to offer cross-programming activities.

Organizational Goal

To provide a structure in which residence hall staff can work effectively with the Associate Director for Residential Student Success to foster consistent and purposeful faculty involvement in residence hall communities
To provide an approach to training Residential Life professional and student staff that will prepare them to assist in the facilitation and implementation of the Faculty/Administrative Partner Program
To develop orientation materials and assistance to Faculty Partners that will prepare them for their role
To recruit faculty who have diverse academic backgrounds and interests that bring an added mix of programmatic opportunities

Outcomes of Residential Life Faculty Partner Programs

Immediate results of participation: Students will...

Develop networks of peers with similar personal and career interests
Understand the fit among their personality, values, interests, skills, and abilities and their career choices
Be knowledgeable of available academic and career resources at ISU
Organize study sessions and use peer support networks
Be comfortable talking with faculty
Have an appreciation for diversity in people and experiences
Develop a sense of responsibility for and to others
Be confident in their academic abilities
See the connections between classroom learning and experiences outside the classroom

Intermediate results of participation: Students will...

Develop lasting mentor relationships with faculty
Make major and career choices that are congruent with their personality, values, interests, skills, and abilities
Develop a sense of aptitude in major and career choices
Succeed in academic coursework
Be connected with the institution
Be involved with campus activities and organizations
Be better ISU citizens

Long-term results of participation: Students will...

Learn more and avoid academic difficulties
Matriculate at higher rates
Graduate on time
Have higher satisfaction with academics, career choices, and Indiana State University

Academic Theme Communities

The Academic Themed Communities house students in similar majors/programs together, and partners those students with a faculty member who teaches in their academic area for programming geared toward their specific areas of interest. These outside-the-classroom interactions provide the foundation for developing mentoring relationships between faculty and students. Additionally, getting to know faculty as human beings and not just "instructor" helps students feel more comfortable using faculty as resources and asking questions in and out of the classroom.

Program Goals:

To support student development through informal interactions with faculty
To provide role modeling opportunities for faculty to assist students (particularly first generation students) in learning university culture and norms
To assist faculty with a better understanding of residential life and how we can support their in-class efforts with outside-the-classroom activities

Faculty Outreach and Mentoring

Faculty Outreach and Mentoring provides students with an opportunity to interact with faculty members outside of the classroom setting. These interactions are intended to assist students in having integrated learning opportunities through their residential experience. The work of Faculty Outreach Partners reflects the Residential Life values, listed below:

Student academic success
Community principles
Diversity and inclusiveness
Civility & action
Leadership development
Early Intervention Outreach for At-Risk Students

Goals of the Program

To provide a bridge between the formal academic program and the out-of-the-classroom learning and developmental activities of residents. To achieve a better integration of learning and living in the students' residential environment
To promote the personal growth and development of students through contact with members of the faculty
To provide faculty with an understanding of student life and opportunities to meet with the students outside of the classroom
To provide partnership opportunities among faculty, students, and staff for the development of intellectual, social, cultural, and ethical learning within the residential environment

It is the intent of the program that Faculty Outreach Partners will focus their efforts on students in their assigned residence hall. In addition, they are encouraged to include students in other residential communities as part of their Faculty Outreach activities.

Faculty Dining Program

Data suggests students that make personal connections with faculty and staff on campus are more engaged in University life and more likely to be successful and return for second and ensuing years of study. The Faculty Dining Program provides opportunities for faculty to interact with first-year students in an environment outside of the classroom. Specifically, faculty will be partnered with a Residential Life Staff Member in an effort to introduce faculty to students in the residence hall and dining hall environments. These interactions will assist students in having integrated learning opportunities through meal-time discussions with faculty. This program reflects the Residential Life values listed below:

Student Success and Academic Achievement
Community Engagement
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Ethical Judgment & Action
Health, Well-being, & Development
Mentoring

Goals of the Program

To provide a bridge between the formal academic program and the out-of-classroom learning and developmental activities of residents
To promote the personal growth and development of students through contact with members of the faculty
To provide faculty with an understanding of student life and opportunities to meet with students in the dining halls