Many colleges and universities are implementing a housing option called living-learning communities. These communities are “programs that involve undergraduate students who live together in a residential community and participate in academic and extracurricular programming especially designed for them” (UMBC). Typically, these living-learning communities place students together according to their major or career field. Colleges allow their students to choose to live in any community in which its theme best first their interests. Many people have opposing views on if these living-learning communities are the best option for college students. The main reason that living-learning communities exist is to give students a family. College Parents of America writes, “At larger schools, Learning Communities can help to shrink the psychological size of the campus by helping to facilitate contact between students” (“Should My College Student Consider a ‘Learning Community’?”). These communities will help the students feel more at home on campus and will “create …show more content…
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County offers living-learning communities in which students can “interact with international student mentors who organize cultural and social activities” and “offers students interested in the humanities the opportunity to share their passion for culture, language, history, philosophy and literature with other students in the community” (UMBC). The University of Minnesota explains that living-learning communities give students “the chance to expand your views through exploration and collaboration with campus departments and academic programs” (UMN). This availability for students to share their passions in particular fields does not limit their exposure to new interests, but rather gives them more opportunities to learn different
At St. Ambrose University, the housing is mainly two bedrooms sharing one bathroom, instead of a communal bathroom. Private universities are mainly about giving a safe and supportive community that each resident can feel comfortable enough in to thrive. On top of the great housing, there are resident hall activities like volunteering. There are also over fifty clubs and after class activities available at St. Ambrose. There are academic, cultural, recreational and even more types of clubs and class activities available. St. Ambrose does its best to provide a home, away from home.
While universities require their applicant to be somehow professional before they admit them, community colleges allow their students to enter the college experience as rookies-inexperienced- and give them the opportunity to reach professionalism. Addison herself writes “you will grow up with your first English class a bit more with your first psychology class, a whole lot more with your first biology, physics, chemistry”(257). Addison’s point is that community college are built in a way to help its student start from where they finished high school without having to get use to a whole new environment. How can we expect an adolescent to focus on their studies while they have a lot of changes going on in their life? Is it even possible for them to succeed with all those changes going on in their life? In Addison’s perspective, that is why community colleges still matter, because they can help those student, who have to learn to live like adults while their academic success is not affected.
One major decision one must make after exiting high school is whether to go to a university or go to community college. In the article “Two Year Are Better Than Four,” written by Liz Addison. She expressed her opinion on the significance of community colleges in comparison with the university. She stated that community college do not receive the acknowledgment and appreciation that they deserve. “what’s the matter with colleges?,” (Addison 255).
Colleges try their best to form a sense of community, but the reality is that everyone has their individual path and schedules, and one must really put in effort to have similar paths and schedules as their peers. For example, Nathan writes that everyone has different classes, meal plans, as well as extracurricular activities, which makes it hard to form a sense of community. In addition to a lack of community, Nathan also notices the lack of diversity. Again, colleges try their best to have very diverse communities, but the reality is that the majority of students are Caucasian. The lack of community and diversity shocked Nathan, because colleges make it seem like the
Community college is the next step for higher education. Sara E. Keene explains the path she took to achieve the american dream in Keene’s article “Higher education and ‘The American Dream,’”. Keene quickly becomes disappointed with community colleges because instead of helping break down down social classes, ethnicity, and other social barriers and opportunities they are encouraging them. Keene wants all students to be equally challenged to reach their full potential. Just like her professors Ted Hamilton and Paula Clarke challenged her to reach their full potential. Keene believes that remedial courses do not help challenge students to become successful. I agree that all students should
Going away to college is a great way for people to meet new friends and experience new things. Usually a setting unlike their home will help them with both of these experiences. While this may not be true for everyone, I believe everyone should try living in an area unlike his or her own. This is what develops a person intellectually and socially.
Upon arriving to college, many students face the challenge of finding a community to belong to. I believe the student affairs professionals on campus are the resource to building communities within the student body. Reflecting back on my first semester of college, I found my community within two organizations; Dance Marathon and UI Alumni Association Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (S.T.A.T.). Within the organizations I met two advisers who opened my eyes to the world of student affairs.
There isn't anything more important to community colleges than the certainty that they can and should provide all qualified people who are looking to be accepted with admittance (Vaughan). The people of the community college represent forty-four percent of all undergraduates and forty-nine percent of students attending college for the first time (David). These students include a lot of minority students, students with a low social standing and the non-standard (age twenty-five and older) student who commonly enters college less academically equipped (David). Most community colleges have made immense advancement in reducing a lot of geographical and economic blockades that have in the past limited college admittance (David). Community colleges are to be expected to present significant support to increasing occupation proficiency in the future as additional workers realize they must continue to improve their ability all the way through their profession (Black). Many people believe, that because these students are less likely to be ready for college, that they have a better chance of failing (Weis). All students should have the right to expand their knowledge through higher education regardless of how they did in high school.
Jane Evans was quoted saying, “These students are supposed to be the cream of the crop, but we would assert, and many of our neighbors would agree, that these students feel grossly entitled to run wild in our streets without any respect for the community in which they live.” (pg. 18) This quote is more than true. I have spent many nights at my friend’s house, and the next morning there will be empty beer cups all over the yard, and most of the night we were kept up by yelling and laughing college students running up and down the streets; she lives in the thick of the college student off campus housing.
I agree with Gary Gutting in the article “What Is College For?”. I agree that college is a place for students to discover dimensions of knowledge that they would otherwise never know existed without attending. College should not be a place students go to just to pass their classes and earn a degree. I believe that college is about students discovering themselves as people and figuring out what kind of role they play in society. My first semester of college has been rough so far and I now see the reason so many people told me to live on campus. Living at home, I feel that I am not able to fully have a real college experience and make the connections with people I need. I hope to live on campus for a semester next year in hopes of engaging more
...ch as fewer expenses, and being able to concentrate on my course work are varied greatly with the good things that Sydney experiences with living in a dorm, such as being able to attend GVSU events and being able to take full advantage of everything the campus offers to its students. On the other hand, there are the negative issues that I deal with as a commuter such as not being involved in the campus life and the amount of time it takes to travel to Allendale in the winter, and the difficulties that Sydney deals with like the expenses she must pay and the lack of space in her dorm room for her and her dorm mate, as well as not being able to connect with her family as much as she might want. Even though the encounters that both Sydney and I have had are distinctive, we are both getting what we want out of our college experience here at Grand Valley State University.
As a first year student at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, my potential is not limited to the classroom. LSA offers a wide variety of service learning opportunities for me to stay involved in what I love most-- helping those in need. Through the Ginsberg Center, Project Community, and Project Outreach, I can engage in the Ann Arbor community, not only academically, but socially as well in a way that encourages positive change for the well-being of others and the community overall.
Aquije, Omar. “Most Community Colleges say Building Dorms is Good Plan.” Glens Falls Post-Star, 13 August. 2011. Web. 7 Nov 2013.
Tuition over the years have made it the struggle for students and their parent to make ends meet. The dorms cost a lot that make it payment really high. Living off campus would make life so much easier for parents and myself because the cost of the school would not cost as much as it does living in the dorms. The school should let students live off campus if they have 2 or more people living with them. If the school did let students live off campus I feel like they should be able to have room checks just like they do in the dorms. If the parents of the students let them live off campus the school should be able to let them do it too. Because really the parents of the students have more authority over the school. I feel that now that a lot of the dorms are getting broken into that it would be way safer to live off campus. That way I know that it is my responsibility if someone was to break into my house. If anything is broking into in our room even if it is locked I don’t think the school pays to get any of the stuff replaced. So living off campus can help students to have responsibility and become a real adult in the college
Students living on campus don’t have to worry about time because they live in the college. On the other hand, students who commute to school, have to worry about getting to class on time. Students living on campus don’t have to waste money on transportation or food since it is all covered under a plan. Unlike commuters, who aren’t covered under a plan, they have to pay more money to get to school as well as for food. Students who live on campus tend to know more people and they know more about what’s going on around campus. However, students, who commute, don’t have that advantage because they are home most of the time. Living on campus can be more beneficial than living at home in many ways.