Furman University
Engaged Living
Address: 3300 Poinsett Hwy.
City: Greenville
State: SC
Zip or Postal Code: 29613
Country: USA
Program Director (or best person to contact): Eric Fisher
Email: eric.fisher@furman.edu
Phone: (864) 294-2092
Fax: (864) 294-3508
Web Address: http://www.furman.edu/housing/engagedliving.htm
Brief Program Summary
Engaged Living takes advantage of the Engaged Learning pedagogical model that has long defined the Furman educational experience. This residence-based program抯 mission has three distinct parts: To create increasingly vibrant residential communities; to support the academic mission of the university by contributing to borderless learning; and to connect students with the Furman campus and the surrounding community.
Sources of funding
Institutional
Program Reports To:
Director of Housing
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 4
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 0
Fulltime Instructors: 1
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 1
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 0
Parttime Instructors: 0
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 0
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 1
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 1
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 0
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 100
Second Year:
Third Year:
Fourth Year and above:
Graduate Students:
Total Number of Students: 110
Year the Program Began:2006
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
Furman expanded its L/L community offerings to five in the fall of 2006 and began operating under the more defined Engaged Living umbrella. The five programs offered are Earth & Environmental Science, Health & Exercise Science, History, Political Science, and Religion. The curricular component of each program includes the introductory course for each respective discipline. The courses fulfill general education requirements and are currently offered at 4 credit hours a piece, taken in the fall of their freshmen year. An additional introductory History course has been offered for the Winter Term with current Engaged Living students taking advantage of this opportunity.
Other Academic Offerings
Classrooms in hall
1
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget Engaged Living students reside in Poteat Hall. The residence hall was constructed in 1958, renovated in 2000 and is scheduled for renovation summer 2007. Poteat rooms have been furnished with new Homestyle Loft furniture as a part of Housing抯 furniture replacement initiative. Daniel Lounge, an adjacent lounge space, is used for Engaged Living and Poteat community activities as well as a non-traditional classroom space.
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
Ethernet connections are available for each resident in each room. Wireless internet is available in residence hall lounge spaces.
The Role of Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are addressed via service projects throughout the City of Greenville. Working with Furman抯 Director of Community Relations, students have been plugged into a variety of city service projects, such as the Sliding Rock river sweep and West Greenville Community Center beautification and cleanup.
The Role of Leadership Development
Our current proposal for 2007 � 2008 includes a partnership with Furman抯 Richard Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership. The organization抯 purpose is the development of civic leadership locally, nationally, and internationally. This group serves as a strong voice in the campus and Greenville communities.
The Role of Research
Summary of Assessment Activities
All students were asked to complete a short survey before arriving on campus and are currently being asked to complete a post measure to assess the first semester. The completion rate for this is almost 90%. We also have targeted participating students with questions in our annual Housing survey that measures their perceptions of their residence hall environment, interaction with faculty, meaningful out-of-class conversations, and connectedness to the university and have found positive differences between Engaged Living students and other freshmen in each area. Finally, we also interviewed 75% of participating students in one-on-one or small group settings to get feedback throughout their first few months on campus.
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
Students in the Engaged Living Political Science group have created a government for Poteat Residence Hall, which houses all of the Engaged Living participants. While Furman has given the two dozen students a small budget to work with, everything has been a student-led initiative. After the class has ended, the government is now in the hands of various residents throughout the building as they work to represent Poteat.
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
Our current proposal for 2007 � 2008 includes a new interdisciplinary Civic Engagement sequence that combines Sociology, History, and Philosophy courses focusing on late twentieth-century El Salvador. This sequence also includes a study abroad experience over Spring Break in El Salvador.
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Furman University currently houses a branch of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) which is led by Idella Glenn, Director of Multicultural Affairs. Various members of Furman抯 faculty and staff have participated in workshops and are NCBI facilitators. Starting in Fall 2006, freshmen students were required to attend a two hour NCBI session prior to the start of classes. NCBI workshops are provided to the general Furman population throughout the year.
Student Demographics
Engaged Living students reflect Furman抯 student body demographics on nearly all levels. Engaged Living students only differ in being more diverse, racially and geographically.
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
Earth and Environmental Science, Health and Exercise Science, History, Religion, Political Science
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
No
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
As we continue to develop, our greatest challenge will be to expand our offerings to a greater number of diverse student interests and backgrounds while keeping in place the types of experiences that has made the original model so meaningful for our campus.
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