Faculty in Residence Expectations
Programmatic Expectations
Programs and initiatives created and facilitated by the FIR should reflect the needs of the population being addressed as well as the personal interests, experience and work of the FIR. Programs should be educational, thought provoking, encourage meaningful dialogue and create a safe space where positive relationships can form. The fundamental goal is to create structured opportunities for informal interactions between students and faculty. Programming provides us with a medium for students to practice and become comfortable communicating and building relationships with faculty. The mutual confidence and ease of communication between students and faculty will positively shape our campus culture.
Weekend and night time programming is encouraged. Programs should be conducted within the residence halls where the target population resides, unless the FIR is taking residents off campus for an event. The Residential Life staff will be a partner for brainstorming and supporting FIR programs. Specific program requirements per semester are listed below. FIRs are encouraged to create additional programs as they see fit. The program requirements represent the minimum expectation.
Semester Program Model
· Design and Implement three building-wide programs, for first-year residential students
o Programs should consider themes of the First-Year Interest groups (FIGs), and the university wide first-year theme
o These programs should be relevant and appropriate for a large number of first-year students
· Host three small student group dinners in FIR apartment, faculty dining room, or cafeteria
o Invite 5-10 residents
o Choose a topic of discussion
o Come prepared with information to facilitate the advancement of discussion
· Plan and implement a skills building workshop on personal or academic skill sets
· Provide grab & go breakfast in the residence hall lobby one time during the semester
· Collaborate with FIG faculty partners, and Residential Life staff on other programming initiatives within the community
A budget will be provided for the FIR to fund programming events and initiatives.
Collaboration with Residential Life Partners
Working alongside residential life student and professional staff will be a major component of the FIR role in the community. Through their active presence in decision making and constant communication with staff, the FIR will become an integral member of the Housing and Residential Life department, specifically assisting in faculty engagement and first-year initiatives.
· Serve as a member of the FIG Advisory Board
· Have regular meetings with the Assistant Director- Community Development to plan overall faculty involvement initiatives
· Have regular meetings to discuss collaboration with the residence directors, resident assistants and hall government leaders to discuss programming and community efforts
· Attend and participate in residential life training programs in late August and throughout the academic year
Inclusion of Additional Faculty Members
The FIR will encourage and support faculty involvement in residential life. The FIR is in a unique position to reach out to the faculty as a liaison between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. This individual will serve as an educator and an informed advocate for both populations. S/he will be responsible for inviting fellow faculty members to participate in programming efforts within the residence halls. Participation can range from program creation and facilitation to joining the FIR for dinner in the cafeteria with a small group of residents. The purpose of additional faculty involvement is to increase the opportunity for faculty-student interaction, thereby enriching the student experience at Pace University.
· Assist in the selection of FIG faculty partners as needed
· Represent the needs of the residential population to the faculty
· Represent the needs of faculty members to the residential life community
Outcomes
1. To positively affect the persistence of residential students from semester to semester and the retention of first-year students to the second year.
2. To increase opportunities for a vibrant university culture that engages students, faculty and staff in the campus community.
3. To improve academic success of first-year residential students through direct involvement of faculty and support services provided by student affairs staff.
4. To provide deliberate opportunities for faculty and student interaction outside of the classroom.
Impact
Interaction between faculty and students outside of the classroom is vital in creating a vibrant living-learning culture on campus. The Faculty-in-Residence program will foster this connection through deliberate programming and partnership initiatives. Creating this active and vibrant culture has direct impact on the student experience, their persistence from semester to semester and their retention from year to year. Faculty members will be able to be active and consistent members of the residential community, encouraging both academic and personal growth of our residential population.
The Faculty-in-Residence will work closely with the Office of Residential Life staff to foster an environment of academic excellence, seek opportunities for other faculty involvement in campus life, work directly with the First-Year interest group (FIG) program, and promote engagement of both faculty and students in the residential experience. This collaborative effort of both faculty and staff, is essential in creating a vibrant campus culture (Tinto 1993). The FIR program enhances our opportunity to create the thinking professionals which Pace University commits to producing with each academic year.
Assessment
Assessment of the FIR program will be coordinated by the Office of Residential Life Assessment Committee in consultation with the Office of the Provost. Student retention, persistence, academic and co-curricular data will be collected for students involved in the FIR program. This data will be compared to similar data of students not involved in the FIR program and shared with the AVP/Dean for Students Office and Office of the Provost. Overall coordination and direction of the future of the FIR program will be a collaborative effort of the Office of the Provost, the AVP/Dean for Students and Office of Residential Life.