Living & Learning Communities

Cougar Village Living Learning Communities

2008-2009 Themed Communities

What is a Themed Community?
A Themed Community is a group of students who have chosen to live together around a specific topic or interest.  The opportunity for creating a theme is only limited by your imagination.  A Themed Community may focus on service learning, cultural awareness, a degree program like Nursing or Engineering, a hobby like aviation, a mission like political refugees, or language development.  

All Themed Community applications will be reviewed by a selection committee (which will include the Community Director of Cougar Village and the Assistant Director for Residential Education) and chosen utilizing the following criteria:

·        Educational value of the theme to members

·        Benefit to Cougar Village and the larger community

·        Realism of set goals to be obtained

·        Resources identified to enable success in the implementation of the theme.

·        Completeness and timeliness of the application.

GOALS

·  To provide Cougar Village residents with an opportunity to create a unique living learning community specific to their interests.

·  To establish Living Learning communities within Cougar Village.

·  To increase academic support for Cougar Village residents.

·   To create a more engaging community

·  To enrich the learning environment for all Cougar Village Residents

·  To provide Cougar Village residents with increased experiences in leadership development, programming, and civility.

What are the Benefits OF THEMED COMMUNITIES?

·  Residents will have an opportunity to prioritize who their roommates and neighbors are.

·  Residents will receive programming funds for their specific community.

·  Residents will experience an increased opportunity for leadership and programming development.

·  Residents will have increased support for their academic and personal goals.

·   Residents will receive out of class experience and contact with faculty.

·   Residents will be recognized at the end of the year Kimmel Leadership Awards Ceremony

Qualifications for Participation

·   All students on the application must be in good standing academically and judicially with University Housing.

·    All participants must abide by the policies and terms of the University Housing Living Guide.

·   All participants understand that once they commit to a Themed Community, they are not eligible to participate in any other aspects of the Housing Lottery process.

·   An application for a Themed Community needed to include the following:

o   Clearly defined goals and purpose

o   Outline of programmatic initiatives.  All Themed Communities will be asked to do a minimum of 3 programs per semester (one social and two educational).

o   How the participants, Cougar Village, and the larger community will benefit

o   A Themed Community Faculty Advisor

o   A Community Leader

o   Minimum of 6, maximum of 12 participants

·  If a student decides to drop out or fails to comply with the requirement of the community, then s/he must complete a University Housing space change after the 3^rd week of the semester.

·   If a student discontinuing with the community brings the total number of participants in the community fewer than 6, then the community must find a replacement participant. If the community fails to bring the number of participants to 6, the community will be relocated.

·  All members of an apartment must be part of the Themed Community.

ROLE OF FACULTY ADVISOR
Each Themed Community is required to have a faculty advisor who has agreed to work with the participants in their theme.  The advisor must be an SIUE faculty member who has knowledge, experience, and/or interest in the specific theme.  It is the responsibility of the community participants to select their advisor.  The faculty advisor will work collaboratively with the community throughout the year to develop programs and educational opportunities to support the mission of the community.

ROLE OF THEMED COMMUNITY LEADER
Each Themed Community is required to have a Student Leader who is a designated student serving as a liaison between the Community and the University.  This student will also take an active lead in goal-setting, programming, and administrative duties.  If the Student Leader should leave the community, for whatever reason, the Themed Community members are expected to assign a new Student Leader within two weeks.

HOUSING PLACEMENT
The Themed Communities for 2008-2009 will be located in two buildings on the 400-side of Cougar Village.   Because these buildings are designated for the Themed Communities, homesteading from one academic year to the next will not be permitted.  Participants in a Themed Community must re-apply if they are interested in continuing with their Themed Community or in creating a new community.  Priority will be given to those that were successful in their previous themed community. Since the Themed Communities are located in Cougar Village, student participants will utilize the Community Director for Cougar Village as a main contact. 

OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS
Each Themed Community must have either 6, 9, or 12 participants, filling either 2, 3, or 4 apartments.   If a member drops out before the beginning of the fall semester, then the other members are responsible for immediately filling the space or the community could be disbanded.  On the application, participants may list alternate members to utilize in such a situation or as needed.   Alternate members will not be included in the roster for the Themed Community unless someone drops out.  Alternate members will need to complete the Housing Lottery process and receive a non-Themed Community assignment. 

TIMELINE