LoginSTM Student Services Awarded Project Grant
A project to help build community among new first-year STM students has been awarded a $1000.00 grant from the Student Affairs and Services Association division of CACUSS. The SASA Program Grant exists to encourage members to develop new programs or ideas at their institution by providing start-up or additional funding. Monies from the grant may be used for a variety of purposes that will have a direct impact on students and/or staff at the institution. The grant to STM will be used to partially fund a new virtual houses program created by Richard Medernach, Coordinator of Student Services at STM."The houses are really web-based communities for new students that will help them make the transition to university," he said.
It can be challenging to build community among commuter students because they are not physically present on campus as much as residential students. A lack of community can make university transition more difficult for students.
"Students usually need a support network to be successful at university. If they are isolated, their first year can be very tough."
Through these houses, new first-year students have access to reliable support people. Each house will have a faculty mentor, a staff advisor and upper-year student mentors much like an actual residence would have. Through the house webpage, students can interact virtually to ask questions about writing papers and exams, form study groups, and make new friends. But the online communication is only the start.
"We hope that the houses become more than just a web portal for sharing information. We hope that students will build authentic community by attending social events together, raising money for charity together, attending study skills workshops together and by supporting each other and learning together."
The STM houses will be named after Basilian Fathers who founded the college and were instrumental in developing its tradition of strong student community. The houses program will launch in summer 2010.
 We must make up our minds to be ignorant of much, if we would know anything.”— John Henry Cardinal Newman |
