First Year First Year Residential Colleges at Residential Colleges - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

First Year First Year Residential Colleges at Residential Colleges at Case Western Reserve University Case Western Reserve University

Karl Rishe, Rachel Tuttle & Vicky Wright Karl Rishe, Rachel Tuttle & Vicky Wright Coordinators of First Year Residence Education Coordinators of First Year Residence Education

Objectives Objectives

• History of Residential Colleges

History of Residential Colleges

• The Undergraduate Experience at CWRU

The Undergraduate Experience at CWRU

• The Residential College Model at CWRU

The Residential College Model at CWRU

• Question & Answer

Question & Answer

What is a RC? What is a RC?

Our Vision… Our Vision…

The residential colleges help students The residential colleges help students transition transition into their new into their new communities, communities, connecting connecting them with the university through academic them with the university through academic support, campus activities, residence hall programs, and other events. support, campus activities, residence hall programs, and other events. Our goal is to help each resident establish a Our goal is to help each resident establish a foundation foundation for future for future success. success. “ “A dormitory is organized to provide food and shelter; a college, to A dormitory is organized to provide food and shelter; a college, to provide for the student’s intellectual, social, and personal provide for the student’s intellectual, social, and personal development.” development.” — —Mark B. Ryan, A Collegiate Way of Living Mark B. Ryan, A Collegiate Way of Living

A Very Short History on RC’s A Very Short History on RC’s

• Early 16

Early 16th

th century scholars rented a hall for

century scholars rented a hall for students to live, a fellow was elected to students to live, a fellow was elected to principal the hall. principal the hall.

• Mid 16

Mid 16th

th century, change in student population

century, change in student population and change in curriculum (loco parentis). and change in curriculum (loco parentis).

• Mid 17

Mid 17th

th Century, appointed one person over

Century, appointed one person over the hall, unified by the English government to the hall, unified by the English government to influence future leaders and make a profit. influence future leaders and make a profit.

A Very Short History on RC’s Cont. A Very Short History on RC’s Cont.

• 1840’s and 1860’s curriculum overhaul, birth of

1840’s and 1860’s curriculum overhaul, birth of university life, university teaching as a university life, university teaching as a profession. profession.

• United States education is modeled after the

United States education is modeled after the German model. German model.

• Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson and

Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson and Harvard’s Abbott Lowell looked to develop the Harvard’s Abbott Lowell looked to develop the “whole man” and looked towards the English “whole man” and looked towards the English model. model.

The Birth of Residence Halls The Birth of Residence Halls

• Wilson and Lowell thought the residential

Wilson and Lowell thought the residential experience was an integral part of the experience was an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum. undergraduate curriculum.

• Colleges and universities have tried to

Colleges and universities have tried to simulate the Residential College structure simulate the Residential College structure and ideals since. and ideals since.

History at CWRU History at CWRU

• Western Reserve College was founded in 1826 in

Hudson, Ohio.

• Case School of Applied Sciences was founded in

1877 in Cleveland.

• In 1967, after being neighbors for 81 years, the

two schools federated to become Case Western Reserve University.

• 15 Nobel Prize winners have been tied to Case.
• More than 75% of CWRU undergrads go on to

graduate school.

CWRU at a Glance CWRU at a Glance

• Located in Cleveland's University Circle

Located in Cleveland's University Circle

• Institutional type

Institutional type (Carnegie classification): (Carnegie classification): Research University (Very High Research Research University (Very High Research Activity) Activity)

• Enrollment

Enrollment (fall 2009): (fall 2009): Undergraduate: 4,228 Undergraduate: 4,228 Graduate and Professional: 5,510 Graduate and Professional: 5,510 States represented: 50 States represented: 50 Countries represented: 82 Countries represented: 82

http://www.case.edu/president/cir/glance.htm http://www.case.edu/president/cir/glance.htm

Concerns Concerns

• Repetition of negative traditions (vandalism,

pranks, professionals not viewed favorably)

• Students not recommending CWRU to other

students

• Low satisfaction of student experience
• Students passed burden on to other students

(academic struggles, apathy)

• No progression in living situations
• Residence Life positions not desirable

Charge Charge

• Director of Residence Life and Director of

Housing were charged by President of the University to come up with a model to solve these concerns.

Eight Types of Programs That Eight Types of Programs That Enhance Student Learning Enhance Student Learning

• First-Year Experiences

First-Year Experiences

• Learning Communities

Learning Communities

• Internships/Co-ops

Internships/Co-ops

• Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects

Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects

• Service Learning

Service Learning

• Study Abroad

Study Abroad

• Writing in the Disciplines

Writing in the Disciplines

• Senior Capstone

Senior Capstone

“America’s Best Colleges 2003”, U.S. News and World Report, September 23, 2002.

Intentional Program Model Intentional Program Model

• 1. Work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to establish
• 1. Work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to establish

common and shared learning outcomes for each class year. common and shared learning outcomes for each class year. 2. 2. Utilize established learning outcomes as a guide to develop programs Utilize established learning outcomes as a guide to develop programs and support services within the residential villages and individual and support services within the residential villages and individual communities. communities. 3. 3. Utilize established and shared learning outcomes to enhance the Utilize established and shared learning outcomes to enhance the academic advising experience. academic advising experience. 4. 4. Develop assessment strategies to measure and evaluate learning Develop assessment strategies to measure and evaluate learning

• utcomes.
• utcomes.

5. 5. Market CWRU as the first Private Research University to exemplify a Market CWRU as the first Private Research University to exemplify a comprehensive, developmental “Challenge and Support” residential comprehensive, developmental “Challenge and Support” residential experience. experience.

An An Innovative Innovative Vision of Vision of Residence Education for Residence Education for CWRU CWRU

The vision of the CWRU residential program is to The vision of the CWRU residential program is to create an create an intentional intentional, , developmental developmental and and comprehensive comprehensive residential experience that residential experience that enhances the undergraduate education of enhances the undergraduate education of students during their first, second, third and students during their first, second, third and fourth year at CWRU. fourth year at CWRU.

Recommendations Recommendations

Improve Undergraduate Education and Life Improve Undergraduate Education and Life by focusing on: by focusing on:

– Curriculum Curriculum – Experiential learning Experiential learning – Seamless learning environment Seamless learning environment – Faculty/student Interaction Faculty/student Interaction – Academic Advising Academic Advising – Student Life Student Life – Campus traditions Campus traditions – New Student Life facilities New Student Life facilities

Fundamental Questions Fundamental Questions

1. 1. What do you know about your student population? What do you know about your student population? 2. 2. How would you describe a typical student on your How would you describe a typical student on your campus? campus? 3. 3. To make each year significant and meaningful what To make each year significant and meaningful what needs to happen? needs to happen? “ “Focusing more on the “what” and less on Focusing more on the “what” and less on the “why”, makes the “how” more evident. the “why”, makes the “how” more evident.

The Case Undergraduate Experience The Case Undergraduate Experience

Class Year 1st Year 2nd Year Upperclass Graduating Senior Class Themes

Transitions Foundations Connection Exploration Engagement Personal Vision Focused Experience Application Future Preparation Reflection Transition Connections Celebrations

Talented and motivated, interpersonally inexperienced, striving to balance freedom & responsibility, problem-solving skills underdeveloped Middle child syndrome, trying to find their niche, academic culture shock, academically consumed Preoccupied with graduate/professional school admissions tests, campus leaders, Junior Year Abroad, Co-op Preparing for the future, academically engaged, “senioritis”, concerned about life skill issues

Class Descriptor

THE CASE WAY THE CASE WAY

A snap shot of the Undergraduate Experience A snap shot of the Undergraduate Experience

Class Year Class Themes Campus Living SAGES Class Events/ Initiatives A Case Graduate 1st

• Transitions
• Foundations
• Connection

Residential College First Seminar Summer Orientation Common Reading The Little Blue Book Emerging Leaders

2nd

• Exploration
• Engagement
• Personal Vision

2nd Yr. Experience

(Suite/Dbl/SS)

Greek University Seminar Second Year Institute Second Year Celebration Career Connections

Upperclass Students

• Focused Exper.
• Application
• Future Prep.

Upperclass Experience

(Apartment Comm.)

Greek Off-campus Departmental Seminar “Coming of Age” Birthday Card

Graduating Seniors

• Reflection
• Transition
• Connections
• Celebrations

Senior Capstone Life Skills Book “Senior’s Salute” Senior Week

Lifelong Scholar Active Global Citizen Ethical Leader

Case Western Reserve University 2009

Because of New Approach to Because of New Approach to Undergraduate Experience… Undergraduate Experience…

• First Year Dean (Undergraduate Studies)

First Year Dean (Undergraduate Studies)

• Faculty In-Residence

Faculty In-Residence

• Seminar Approach to General Education

Seminar Approach to General Education and Scholarship (SAGES) and Scholarship (SAGES)

• Class Cohorts

Class Cohorts

• New Orientation Structure

New Orientation Structure

• Second Year Institute

Second Year Institute

CWRU Residential Colleges CWRU Residential Colleges

Theme: Leadership through Service

MISTLETOE Residential College Hitchcock House Pierce House Storrs House

Theme:

Knowledge through Multiculturalism

JUNIPER Residential College Sherman House Norton House Raymond House

Theme: Growth through the Arts

CEDAR Residential College Smith House Taft House Tyler House

Common Components of Common Components of CWRU’s Residential College CWRU’s Residential College

• Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator

Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator

• Themes and theme-based programming

Themes and theme-based programming

• Opening Ceremonies

Opening Ceremonies

• Crests

Crests

• Traditions

Traditions

• Shirts and lanyards

Shirts and lanyards

• Multiple buildings belonging to one RC

Multiple buildings belonging to one RC

• End of the Year Celebration

End of the Year Celebration

Because of the RC’s at CWRU… Because of the RC’s at CWRU…

• The undergraduate experience is in line with the

The undergraduate experience is in line with the Case Way (transitions, foundations, and Case Way (transitions, foundations, and connections) connections)

• Students have a sense of identity before they

Students have a sense of identity before they come to campus and a continued identity and come to campus and a continued identity and pride after moving out of residential college pride after moving out of residential college – Wear t-shirts all 4 years Wear t-shirts all 4 years

• Alumni boards have been formed that program for

Alumni boards have been formed that program for current RC residents current RC residents

Because of the RC’s Cont. Because of the RC’s Cont.

• Students have the opportunity to live with

Students have the opportunity to live with

• thers with common interests
• thers with common interests
• Much of the programming is focused around

Much of the programming is focused around the RC theme the RC theme

• Residents from multiple buildings feel

Residents from multiple buildings feel connected to each other connected to each other

• Residence Life positions are desirable and

Residence Life positions are desirable and highly competitive highly competitive

Things Needed to Make the RC’s Things Needed to Make the RC’s Happen Happen

• Ability to borrow money
• President that was supportive of initiative
• Faculty was supportive of initiative
• Spike in enrollment
• Overall need to strengthen morale of

student body

Your First College Year Survey Your First College Year Survey

• “

“Students in 2008 rated the overall sense of Students in 2008 rated the overall sense of community among students significantly community among students significantly higher than did their peers in 2005.” (year the higher than did their peers in 2005.” (year the RC’s started) RC’s started) Institutional Research, 2008 Institutional Research, 2008

A CWRU Undergraduate A CWRU Undergraduate

Life-Long Scholar Life-Long Scholar

“ “Educated learners awake to new possibilities” Educated learners awake to new possibilities”

Ethical Leader Ethical Leader

“ “Preparing moral and socially responsible life-long leaders” Preparing moral and socially responsible life-long leaders”

Active Citizen Active Citizen “ “Prepared and engaged to serve humanity”

Prepared and engaged to serve humanity”

Questions? Questions?

Thank you for your time! Thank you for your time!

Contact Information and our RC Website! Contact Information and our RC Website! Karl Rishe, Karl Rishe, karl.rishe@case.edu karl.rishe@case.edu Rachel Tuttle, Rachel Tuttle, rachel.tuttle@case.edu rachel.tuttle@case.edu Vicky Wright, Vicky Wright, vicky.wright@case.edu vicky.wright@case.edu http://studentaffairs.case.edu/living/residenceli http://studentaffairs.case.edu/living/residenceli fe/firstyear/ fe/firstyear/

References

• Duke, A. (1996). Importing Oxbridge:

English residential colleges and American

• universities. Yale University.
• Case Western Reserve University, The

Case Way, 2009. Please see presenters if you would like a copy.