Community Development @ Miami University Presented by Patricia Martinez, Associate Director of Residence Life and Vicka Bell-Robinson, Coordinator of Living Learning Communities

Overview Introduction to Community Community at Miami Boyer’s Principles Learning Communities Break Six Strategies for Community Development Academic Advising Bringing the Values to Life through Community Development Group Work Wrap Up

What is Community? Community is everywhere. You find community in church, at school, in the grocery store, and even the zoo. The shared experience that a group of people have together forms a community. Some communities last for decades, while others only last a moment. Each community experience leaves a mark on its members, some are more salient than others. VBR

Communities at Miami Other than Residence Life, what are some communities that exist at Miami? Athletic Teams Greek Organizations Class Groups Departments Offices Student Organizations Facebook

How Do Residential Communities Differ from Other Communities? The difference between us and everyone else, is not the gathering, the shared space, or the number. The difference is in the INTENTION.

Miami University Residence Life Mission Statement The Office of Residence Life collaborates with other offices to facilitate students’ successful adjustment to and transitions through their collegiate experience.  We try to provide a safe and supportive environment promoting academic success, personal development, involvement in campus life, and understanding of intercultural issues.  We support the University’s commitment to build citizen leaders for the future. PARSM

Community enables growth, learning, and Community @ Miami Community enables growth, learning, and self-authorship.  Boyer Learning Communities Community promotes interaction and friendship, respect and inclusion, celebration and fun. Academic Advising Six Strategies

Principles of Community Ernest Boyer, in his book "Campus Life: In Search of Community," offers six principles of community. Purposeful Open Just Disciplined Caring Celebrative

PURPOSEFUL A place where students, faculty, and staff share goals and collaborate for personal development, value clarification, and learning; a place where creativity and innovation are expressed. ...

OPEN A place where freedom of expression is honored and where civility is powerfully affirmed; a place that fosters dialogue and advocacy. ...

JUST A place where the value of each person is paramount and where diversity education is pursued. ...

DISCIPLINED A place where individuals accept their obligations to the group and where well-defined policies and procedures guide responsible decision-making for the common good....

CARING A place where the well-being of each member is compassionately supported and where service to others is encouraged....

CELEBRATIVE A place where the heritage of the institution is remembered and where rituals affirming both tradition and change are widely shared….

Making Sense Out of Nonsense FIND A COMMONALITY AMONG YOUR GROUP VBR

Student Learning Imperative, ACPA 1993 Learning Communities “The concepts of ‘learning,’ ‘personal development’ and ‘student development’ are inextricably intertwined and inseparable. Higher education traditionally has organized its activities into ‘academic’ affairs (cognitive development) and ‘student affairs’ (affective or personal development). However this dichotomy has little relevance to post-college life, where the quality of one’s job performance, family life and community activities are all highly dependent on cognitive and affective skills.” Student Learning Imperative, ACPA 1993

Learning Communities @Miami The mission of Living Learning Communities at Miami University is to create and EXTEND STUDENT LEARNING opportunities outside of the classroom that heighten student intellectual and personal growth. Communities are PURPOSEFUL attempts to integrate curricular and co-curricular experiences that complement and extend classroom learning and growth.

Learning Communities @ Miami These communities foster faculty and resident interaction that enhances both intellectual and personal growth of the residents. Each community is built around a specific field of study or area of interest and is structured so students have a HIGH DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT in its formation.

Learning Communities @ Miami Curricular – Corresponds with an academic course and or specific department. Environmental Awareness Program Languages (French, Spanish, German, Chinese) Mosaic CHANGE Courses In Common Honors and Scholars International HELM (Health Enhancement & Lifestyle Management) SEP/URO (Scholastic Enhancement Program/Undergraduate Research Option)

Learning Communities @ Miami Interest – Residents have identified interest in a certain topic, but this topic is not necessarily connected to a department. TAS (Technology and Society) WiSDEM (Women in Science Disciplines, Engineering and Mathematics) CTA (Celebrate the Arts) Sorority Red Hawk Traditions

Learning Communities @ Miami Student Created – The residents that live in these communities have an opportunity to decide what their focus(es) will be for the school year. Flower Miami Manor Hahne Ogden Hepburn Porter Morris Scott Heritage Commons Swing

Learning Communities @ Miami Advisory Councils LLC Kickoff LLC Timeline LLC Funding

Advisory Councils Advisory Councils are made up of people with an invested interest in the learning community. Those people will likely include Advisory staff, faculty, a student from each hall within the council, a central office member, and other University personnel.

Advisory Council Expectations Meet monthly for the first semester, excluding the months of August and December Set semester long goals due to Vicka by September 25th Submit minutes to Vicka, all of the members of your council, and your Coordinator, no less than one week after the meeting occur Each hall is responsible for having one student representative on the council. Each council is expected to plan something HUGE for their community each semester.

LLC Kickoff August 17th from 7 – 9 for first year areas Sometime during the first week of classes for Upper class areas Introduce the members of the LLC to the LLC Topic Communities that are spread across several buildings (HELM, Red Hawk, CIC) should be working together as long as it not physically difficult. Communities with multiple topics in their building can plan 1 big kickoff event that highlights the various areas within the community (McBride, Dorsey, Morris) Kickoffs should be interactive, related to the topic of the community, entertaining, and fun Incorporate your RA staffs Incorporate as many advisory council members as you can Your proposed budget is due to Vicka by August 4th Evaluation is due to Vicka by August 31st

LLC Funding Living Learning Community (LLC) funding should be used for intentional programming that supports the academic mission of the university. Programming should be associated with the hall theme or support the goals and vision of the community, which should include assessment of the needs and interests of the residents in the community. In addition, programming should include faculty or staff and have clear educational goals and objectives. This budget should not be used to replace Hall Council, RHA, or any other university or community funding sources. In addition, there will be many times that the Hall Council, students or other funding sources should be contributing to the larger programming initiatives. PARSM

LLC Funding Guidelines The information must be submitted 10 working days prior to the date of the program. Approval/Denial or a request for additional information will be communicated via email. Programs approved for LLC funding will receive funding through their Hall Council accounts. ORL will transfer the funding to that hall account. The contact person is responsible for sending Patty Martinez a follow-up report (documenting the program and how much money was spent and in what capacity) within one week after the event.

Learning Communities @ Miami So, what? Now, what? On or before Aug 3 – Meet with your central staff member to discuss plans for your Advisory Committee Meeting locations Most ideal meeting times Existing Dynamics of the group Who will convene the meeting Initial goals Which Res. Life person will take minutes LLC Kickoff VBR

Learning Communities @ Miami So, what? Now, what? FALL TIMELINE

Learning Communities @ Miami So, what? Now, what? RESOURCES

Six Strategies for Building Community Five Weeks All Hall Programming Corridor Programming Individual Conversations Passive Programming Staff Development PARSM

First Five Weeks Events and discussions occurring in the first five weeks of the semester. This time period is crucial for setting the tone for the community for the year. Some areas to focus on at this time include: Establishing connections, personal safety, fire safety, impact of high risk alcohol use, diversity, and academic success.

All Hall Programming Events advertised and designed for the entire hall.

Corridor Programming Events tailored specifically to a corridor.

Individual Conversations This is probably one of the most effective means of connecting with a student. Striking a conversation with a student about class, home, involvement, world events can lead to meaningful interactions.

Passive Anything educational that requires little or no human interaction, however it may lead to further discussions. This can include bulletin boards, wearing ribbons, or handing out facts regarding an issue on campus.

Staff Initiatives Building community within the hall staff. This can include professional development opportunities, teambuilding, and recognition programs.

Academic Advising Academic Advising Plays an Important Role in Community Development. Individual Conversations Student Learning and Development Intentionality Partnerships with Faculty and Academic Departments

Putting the Pieces Together Miami University Office of Residence Life Values Respect, Compassion, & Peaceful Relationship Six Strategies Integrity & Ethics Boyer Meaningful Partnerships Learning Communities, Academic Advising Staff Development

Putting the Pieces Together Miami University Office of Residence Life Values Student Learning & Development Learning Communities, Academic Advising, Six Strategies, Boyer Creativity and Intentionality Boyer, Learning Communities, Academic Advising, Six Strategies Diversity Learning Communities, Boyer, Six Strategies Celebration Boyer, Learning Communities, Six Strategies

Final Thoughts, Questions, Comments COMMUNITY @ Miami Final Thoughts, Questions, Comments