Special Programs
Living Learning Community Descriptions for Fall 2008-Spring 2009Air Force ROTC: Air Force ROTC is an experience that transforms the ordinary individual into a well-disciplined, purpose-driven person with a guaranteed career upon graduation and completion of the program as well as pride and a sense of honor to last a lifetime. Air Force ROTC offers tools to give the average person an advantage over their peers by teaching him/her: time management, physical training, military discipline, bearing, and a host of other skills that enable the individual to exude professionalism in all aspects of his/her life. Upon successful completion of the Air Force ROTC program, cadets are fully prepared to move on and take their new role as an officer on active duty in the Air Force. For more information on Air Force ROTC visit their website at http://www.valdosta.edu/afrotc. Men and Women who participate in Air Force ROTC have the option to live in Patterson Hall.
The Emerging Leader Program (ELP): ELP is designed to encourage and develop freshmen student leaders. Emerging Leaders participate in an academic class, ongoing activities during their first year and attend an exciting and fun retreat in August. The program is dedicated to preparing students for positions of leadership both inside and outside the University community and encourages involvement in opportunities that promote leadership, citizenship, service, and personal development. Upon completion of this program, students can advance into the Existing Leader program. The ELP program is open to all incoming freshman. Students can select the major of their choice and still participate in the program. ELP participants will be pre-registered for the Emerging Leader class and two freshman level academic courses for their first semester. Students selected for the ELP cannot be enrolled in any other program such as the Freshman Year Experience. Applications are available on-line at http://valdosta.edu/stulife/leadership. The first 75 students selected in the Emerging Leader Program will be assigned to Lowndes Hall .
Freshman Year Experience (FYE):FYE is a year-long student success program designed to maximize every student’s potential The program is open to students who do not want to declare an academic major until after their first or second semester of college. The major component of the FYE Program is the Freshmen Seminar (VSU 1101). The freshman seminar professor also serves as the student’s academic advisor throughout the first year of college. During the first semester, the seminar focuses on helping students make the transition to college through classes on academic skills development, goal setting, time management, critical thinking, and personal development. When you become a member of the FYE Program, you also become a member of a learning community. A learning community is a group of 25 students who have at least three classes together with other students in FYE. Because the classes are liked, students are afforded a rich interdisciplinary experience. In addition, each learning community has a peer mentor and tutor to help with subjects such as math, political science, and history. You can learn more about FYE by visiting at http://www.valdosta.edu/oasis. Students who are participating in the Freshman Year Experience Program are housed in Patterson Hall.
Foreign Languages House: The Foreign Languages House will offer to the participants the opportunity to live in a residence hall dedicated to learning a foreign languages and exploring foreign cultures. Participants will live together on a floor which includes a classroom/lounge where they can socialize in the languages. Also, they will meet in the classroom regularly during the week for a specially designed, two-credit conversation/culture course. A faculty or a distinguished graduate student from the Foreign Languages department will facilitate the course and organize social and cultural activities.
A community will develop around speaking French and Spanish and taking part in cultural activities, from the frivolous to the serious. Participants will play multiple games, sponsor conversation Cafés, screen classic and contemporary foreign films, organize cooking sessions, and host fête crêpe workshops for other house residents.
Both French and Spanish majors and non-majors from a variety of disciplines will make up the Foreign Languages House. An important component of this project may be a yearly trip to Quebec, a pilot study abroad to Senegal in collaboration with the University of Dakar, a study abroad to Mexico, Spain, or Peru (all trips will incur additional costs to the student). Whatever the plans, the Foreign Languages House will provide a place to experience everyday life
en Français and Espanol without leaving the campus. Students participating in the Foreign Languages House will live in Centennial Hall.
Honors Program: The Honors Program offers interdisciplinary seminars, a special track of core curriculum courses, and opportunities for independent research that lead to a Certificate in University Honors. The program is designed to provide for the stimulation and challenge of academically motivated students so that they achieve their full academic potential, while at the same time providing recognition for such students' endeavors. The Honors Program encourages connections between disciplines, interdisciplinary programs, innovative and unusual approaches to subject matter, and a reliance upon experiential learning that is fully integrated into the course content. The courses and seminars are designed to give all students in the Honors Program a shared intellectual experience in order to develop a community of learners and to encourage a spirit of collegiality in the pursuit of knowledge, a spirit that is essential for intellectual growth and personal fulfillment. The only requirement for Honors Housing is that the student be admitted to the Honors Program. For additional information about the Honors Program please visit http://www.valdosta.edu/honors/. Students participating in the Honors Program have the option to live in Langdale Hall.
Outdoor Adventure Learning Community (OALC): Whether you are new to Outdoor Adventures, or an expert, this learning community will stimulate all. The opportunities on this floor will help participants to gain survival skills, leadership skills, and learn more about the environmental issues involved in outdoor adventure including the Leave No Trace Theory.
The Outdoor Adventure learning community will give you an opportunity to attend both educational and social programs offered by the staff and leadership group with many of the suggestions from the actual residents themselves! Some of the events and programming that will be put on during the year may include outdoor camping and hiking trips, environmental issues programs, and leadership skills.
Participants in the OALC will help select the programs and trips activities that the community will be involved in through a Leadership Council that is composed of members of the community.
Participants will:
• Attend two OALC programs a semester
• Attend at least two OALC trips a semester
• Actively participate in the floor community by attending community meetings, abiding by the community living agreement,and contributing to program assessments
For more information on Campus Recreation activities visit http://www.valdosta.edu/recreation/outdoor/index.shtml. Students participating in the OALC will be housed in Brown Hall.
Out to Lunch Program The Office of Housing and Residence Life, along with Campus Dining Services proudly announce a unique opportunity for on-campus residents.Through a new program initiative where students can invite a professor, or other faculty member to lunch at no cost to that faculty member. (The student will need to use his/her own meal plan to cover their own meal). The mission is to stimulate learning and interaction outside of the classroom setting. Over lunch, students and faculty can get to know each other better and discuss various topics such as: a class assignment, joining a study group, learning how the professor’s academic career has developed, or finding common interests (hobbies, passions, etc.) For students who wish to find out more information, please visit the Housing Office located in Powell Hall, or you may call (229)333-5920, and ask to speak with Ms. Gala Jackson.