(Available to new and returning students still subject to the on-campus residency requirement)
Supplemental Applications: Cura Personalis, Encountering Cultures, Learning to Lead, Men & Women for Others
Coughlin Hall Living and Learning Center
The office of Housing & Residence Life is now accepting applications from current freshmen who wish to live in one of the four living -learning communities in Coughlin Hall for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Embedded in the Jesuit philosophy of educating the whole person is a call for students to develop a congruency between their physical, mental, and spiritual lives. The vision for the Coughlin Hall Living and Learning Center is to provide its residents with an on-campus living experience that embodies this philosophy. The 325 1st and 2nd year residents in this community attend campus events together, participate in hall sponsored community service projects, and engage in reflection exercises with their friends; three of the communities will have a shared class. Students in these communities will be registered for a class that relates to the topic. Each wing of rooms in Coughlin Hall is built around a "courtyard" style lounge that encourages students to join in late night conversations about meaningful topics, watch the ZAGS game, or study with other residents. A larger portion of the community can gather to play pool in one of the game rooms, work on a group project for class in the seminar rooms, talk over a latte from Barney's Coffee Shop, or peruse the books in the Coughlin library. The Faculty in Residence, Live-In Jesuit Chaplain, and Residence Life staff is often found in one of these spaces joining in the conversation or playing foosball with residents.
For 2012-2013, the Housing and Residence Life Department will partner with other campus faculty and staff to offer several distinct but integrated communities within Coughlin Hall. Whether you choose to apply for the Cura Personalis, Men & Women for Others, Learning to Lead, or Encountering Cultures we are sure that you will love living in Coughlin.
Why are Living & Learning Communities Valuable:
Educationally effective colleges and universities focus on student learning holistically. Policies, programs, and services of individual student affairs units at educationally effective universities reflect a sustained commitment to achieving the institution’s academic mission. (Whitt, 2006). The mission of this department is to provide a quality living learning environment. Housing & Residence Life does not provide an environment where knowledge is transferred. Rather, it seeks “to create environments and experiences that bring students to discover and
construct knowledge for themselves, to make students members of communities of learners that make discoveries and solve problems” (Barr & Tagg, 1995, p. 15).
The purpose of the University Housing Living-Learning program is to provide a strategy for effectively influencing individual student engagement and learning. “Learning is a comprehensive, holistic, transformative activity that integrates academic learning and student development, processes that have often been considered separate, and even independent of each other” (American College Personnel Association, 2004).
Living on campus at Gonzaga provides many great opportunities for students to grow and flourish. Coughlin Hall was specifically designed to provide an opportunity for students to live with other students who share similar ideas and values and take courses together, thus improving their educational experience and better preparing them for life after college. As a member of this community, you will receive many benefits and therefore it is seen as a privilege to be chosen for this community.
What is in it for Students:
- Connect class materials to out of the classroom experiences in order to better prepare students for the workforce and life after college
- Meet new friends who share similar goals and interests as you and from whom you may learn from in difference
- Opportunities to self-reflect and grow as a whole person
- Connect and engage with faculty and professional staff in the Gonzaga community
- Certificate of Completion – attend each reflection dinner (3/semester) and four community programs by May 2013. Which may include a 1-credit component.
Men & Women for Others
Men & Women for Others is at the heart of the Jesuit and Gonzaga Mission. It is committed to support the Gonzaga and the Spokane community by assisting local organizations in providing food, shelter and other basic necessities to locals in need. In giving back, we learn how to be caring citizens. Members of this community will also take a Service Learning English, Philosophy or Religion course together.
This community encourages residents to reflect on the understanding, development and integration of Service in the Gonzaga community and beyond. Throughout the year, members of this community will engage in opportunities that are centered community service and stewardship. Three (3) community dinners a semester and engage in regular community reflection activities and events. Comprising of Freshman and Sophomore residents, the Learn to Lead Community is well-known for housing some of the most active students on campus. First year students in this community are enrolled in a “Service Learning” section of one of the Core required Religion, English or Philosophy classes. Sophomore students are required to take a Philosophy 201 course with a service learning designation.
Encountering Cultures
This community has a two-pronged focus: to foster local and global understanding of different cultures and the support of social justice and the celebration of difference. The community will provide opportunities for students to engage with faculty and local professionals who are committed to these values.
This community encourages residents to reflect on themselves as a citizen of the world. Students interested in studying a language or international business, focusing their chosen course of study around cross-cultural issues, living with an international student, or studying abroad benefit greatly from membership in the Encountering Cultures community. Residents are required to participate in three (3) community-focused, cultural-based programs and three (3) community dinners each semester. Additionally, there are opportunities to meet for “language table” discussions for your foreign language class, or become a “conversation partner” with an international student from your community. Comprising Freshman and Sophomore residents, the Encountering Cultures community is home to students from around the world. Residents in this community are encouraged to room with someone from another country, but this is not a required component of the program.
Cura Personalis
Meaning “Care for the whole person” in Latin; this idea encapsulates the values of personal and spiritual well-being, self-understanding and care for the community. With a focus around mind, body, spirit, the community will be devoted to holistic wellness programming. Students of this community will be encouraged to sign a substance free agreement for the academic year.
This community encourages residents to integrate their mental, physical, and spiritual lives. Students interested in creating community around the themes of good study habits, healthy physical activity, and personal faith exploration are encouraged to apply. Residents of the Cura Personalis Community are required to participate in three (3) Mind, Body, or Spirit Programs and three (3) community dinners each semester. Additionally, students in this community are given the opportunity to sign a “Substance Free” pledge agreeing to a college experience without the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. While not required, this pledge will assist the University in matching students wishing to express this commitment with similarly committed roommates. Comprising Freshman and Sophomore residents, the Cura Personalis Community is hallmarked by study groups, participation in intramural sports, and involvement in University Ministry.
Learning to Lead
Got leadership? This community will focus on leadership in the scope of a Jesuit Education. Students will develop the skills and understanding needed to be a servant leader at Gonzaga and beyond by reflecting on the ethics and impact of leadership. The students of this community will also take a Leadership Course out of the CLP Program.
This community encourages residents to reflect on the understanding, development and integration of leadership. Throughout the year, members of this community will engage in opportunities that are centered around leadership understanding and development. Membership in this community requires a commitment to participating in Three (3) Leadership-focused Programs each semester, be pre-registered for a CLP-type Leadership course, attend 3 Community Dinners a semester and engage in regular community reflection activities and events. Alumni of this program include numerous Resident Assistants, Orientation Leaders, Reality Camp Coordinators, Comprehensive Leadership Program (CLP) members, and Gonzaga Student Body Association (GSBA) officials.
Accountability to Program Requirements
All of the programs in the Coughlin Hall Living and Learning Center are the result of collaborative efforts between University Faculty, Staff, and Students. At the beginning of each fall semester, residents of the different programs meet to discuss their expectations of each other in the community as it relates to program requirements. This discussion allows for each community to "govern" itself as a peer group. Community meetings, Community Dinners and other events are regularly held throughout the year and provide an opportunity to "check-in" on these expectations. Additionally, requirements such as service hours, program attendance etc. are tracked by the Residence Life Staff. For first year students, meeting program requirements is considered should they choose to reapply for a Living and Learning Community for their sophomore year.
Program Application
All applicants for the three Living and Learning Programs must indicate their interest in a specific program (or more than one program) when they complete the online housing application.
Returning residents are required to complete a separate application available on the Housing and Residence Life website. These applications are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee from Residence Life Staff, CCASL Staff, and Faculty Stakeholders. New students are also required to complete a separate housing application available on the Housing and Residence Life website. This application is separate from the general housing application. Students new to Gonzaga still need to formally apply for housing; please see the main housing website for details.
Should you have any questions regarding Living & Learning at Gonzaga University, please contact Jessica Vanderwood-Davis at vanderwood@gonzaga.edu or 509-313-4173.
Interest Communities
Interest communities provide students the opportunity to live and interact with others who share their same interests. In interest communities, residents and staff create their own opportunities for shared experiences rather than through a formal program.
Engineering (Goller Hall)
The engineering interest community accommodates 1st and 2nd year students enrolled in the School of Engineering as well as their preferred roommates [1]. There is no special application process, however, students enrolled in the School of Engineering receive preference in room assignment. To apply for this community, just indicate your preference for this community when you complete your Housing and Residence Life Application/Agreement.
[1] In support of this community, at least one resident of each bedroom must be enrolled in the
School of Engineering. This allows residents the choice of roommate as well as serves the community by promoting a higher level of participation in this community by "engineering majors".
Outdoor Pursuits (Marian Hall)
In partnership with the GU Outdoors program, 1st and 2nd year residents of this close knit community may participate in a variety of outdoor adventures, plan and lead outdoor activities, and share their outdoor skills with others. Some of the adventures include hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing, boating, skiing, etc. Also, participation in a meal plan is optional for this community.
There is no special application process. Just indicate your preference for this community when you complete your Housing and Residence Life Application/Agreement.