Anisa Jibrell – General Assignment Reporter
With classes back in full swing, Residence Life suits up for a new year with new Living & Learning communities, designed for transfer and first-generation students , that aim to create a unique college experience by bringing students with similar interests and backgrounds together.
“One of the things Residence Life noticed in particular with our transfer students, is that some of them didn’t feel as connected to the university,” said Robert DeMezzo, director of Residence Life. “And it may be because they didn’t get the same treatment as maybe a new freshman would have.”
With 60 credits or less, students are eligible to join the living & learning community in Farnham, which serves as a transitional environment where students can connect with other transfers and get more acquainted with the Owl community, according to DeMezzo.
“So there’s no better way to support people than through some shared experiences,” said DeMezzo
Residence life is working towards creating more new programs like the living & learning communities to cater to transfer students, who in fact make up a huge chunk of the student body. According to Spring 2014 registration statistics, transfer enrollment has been up by 2.4%.
“We really want to welcome transfer students and get them excited about Southern and help them become Owls,” DeMezzo explains. “Which is why it’s important that we offer them the assistance they need through programs like this.”
Residence life has also launched a new living & learning community in Wilkinson this semester, to help assist students who are the first in their family to go to college to ensure that they are equipped with the right resources to ensure a smooth college experience, DeMezzo confirms.
“Not a lot of those students have that type of support. We have a lot of 1st generation staff, including myself,” said DeMezzo. “My parents didn’t go to college, and actually, my father didn’t graduate high school.
Victoria Pena, senior and public health major, says she is optimistic about the new program and glad more assistance is being offered to these students, but believes it would be even more beneficial to include parents in the equation.
“When I first went into college, my parents had no clue. So I confided in my inquiry class professor,” said Pena. “I think it would be helpful if there was workshop that first-generation students can take with their parents,” said Pena, but more so regarding the financial aspects
According the U.S. Department of Education, first-generation students were more likely to have left college than non-first generation students, which makes serving this population such complex process, the Institute for High Education Policy suggests.
Residence Life is currently thinking about new ways to incorporate academic services in residence halls.
“We are in the process of thinking about what new academic resources we can bring into the residence halls, like tutoring services for instance,” said DeMezzo, who believes it would be tremendously beneficial, as opposed to traveling to the other side of campus for academic services. “That’s not something that’s in place yet, but we are certainly having conversations about.”
