Changes at the Residential College Reconstitute Image and Purpose

Senior Faculty Fellow of the Residential College, Marvin King, is implementing changes to create a community-based atmosphere in the residence hall for the 2014-15 school year.

One of King’s changes includes rearranging the tables in the cafeteria to encourage interaction and increase people skills among residents.

Residential College Senior Faculty Fellow, Marvin King, is in the process of creating a new purpose and image for the residence hall.

The Residential College (RC) currently houses athletes and scholars. The RC differs from the average dormitory because students must “maintain academic good standing at the university” among other requirements to maintain residency.

The application process for acceptance into the RC will remain the same, however, King will require each resident to complete eight community service hours per year.

“I would like to be able to say that in this building, we produce thousands of hours of service,” said King, “eight hours per resident is not a large commitment.” King will allow members of the Honors College and Greek community to count service hours toward the RC requirement.

King has devised an incentive for residents to maintain a high GPA and complete or exceed the required service hours. The RC has 12 four-person suites that are in high demand among residents. King described the current method of assigning quads as a “random lottery”.

“I would rather reward people who do service and get good grades. They should have first pick,” said King.

King hopes that rewarding high achieving upperclassmen with first choice in room selection will inspire freshman residents to strive for similar achievement. By giving upperclassmen an incentive to maintain high grades and exceed service hours, King hopes that they will exemplify model behavior to freshman residents.

One of King’s goals is to bridge the gap between the atmosphere of a “regular” residence hall and the Residential College.

“The only reason that I dislike living in the RC is because there isn’t much sense of community,” said freshman RC resident, Lauren Resch. “When I visit my friends in other dorms, the walls are decorated, the doors are open, and everyone knows everyone on their floor.”

Since King began his position as Senior Faculty Fellow during the summer of 2013, he has been trying to change this aspect of RC life. He has reached out to residents and determined what clubs and activities would flourish at the RC. King also developed and appointed members to the RC Cabinet. All of these changes, however, still have not transformed the RC into the community that King envisions.

In March, King held a photography contest in the RC. The winners of the contest had their photos printed and displayed on the walls. King hoped that the photography would transform the white-walled hallways into a welcoming space.

One of King’s main goals for the RC is to increase interaction between residents. Small improvements have been made this semester to aid the process, such as putting a baby grand piano in the lobby, creating a Facebook group, and rearranging the tables in the cafeteria on a weekly basis.

Next year King plans to establish a community atmosphere in the RC immediately by creating interest groups and hosting weekly meetings by floor during the first week of school.

“I feel that the changes Dr. King is making to the RC are necessary and will make the residence hall a more enjoyable place to live…I think I can handle eight service in turn for a better community environment,” said Resch.