Despite having 18 colleges and schools to choose from at the University, some students turn to interdisciplinary residential colleges to integrate all of their interests.
Trey Martin, a biochemistry freshman enrolled in the Vision Louisiana Residential College, said he enrolled in the program, which focuses on Louisiana economic and community development, to learn about issues affecting the state. Martin said he may not use the leadership and economic skills he learns in the college for his future profession, but he plans to stay in Louisiana, so these issues will affect him.
The Vision Louisiana Residential College, partnered with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, began this semester and is open to freshmen, said Perry Prestholdt, an associate professor of psychology who is involved in the program.
In addition to their major’s core classes, the college tailors classes to focus on Louisiana. Students now take “The State of Louisiana: Where We Are and How We Got Here,” an interdisciplinary course with seven instructors from various colleges that team-teach. This course is taught in conjunction with English 1002.
As students progress through the four-year program, they will analyze the Louisiana Department of Economic Development’s Vision 2020 plan developed four years ago which details what the state needs to improve. Students will choose an aspect of this plan, such as inner-city renewal or wetlands restoration and protection, during the second year of the program and develop a presentation by their senior year to present to state legislators.
Adapting a different personal routine and study skills in college can be a difficult transition from high school. To ease the college culture shock, taking classes in the dorm and forming relationships with a smaller group of students can be beneficial.
“We try to get up close and personal with students,” said Dorothy McCaughey, rector of the Herget Residential College. “We want them to succeed.”
Students from various majors can take entry-level English, science and math classes offered in the dorm. The college is offering an entry-level Spanish class next semester as well, McCaughey said.
Students get to know others in their classes, McCaughey said. Since all classes are offered in the dorm, students socialize with the people in their classes, which promotes study groups.
Chemistry professor John Hopkins, who holds review sessions in Herget every Tuesday night, works with the students’ schedules, McCaughey said.
Students must pay an extra fee for this unique college experience. The extra funding goes into extracurricular activities, such as Herget Theater Night, when Herget residents and faculty members attend a play and dinner discussion with the play’s director.
Rising from the rubble of recently-demolished Graham Hall, Broussard Hall now holds the Information Technology Residential College began in 2002. The program offers basic-level English and ISDS courses and requires students to purchase an approved laptop to use in the English and ISDS classes offered.
“[The college] provides first-year students with training and intensive practice with technology,” said Mimi LaValle, Residential Life manager.
Broussard’s yearlong renovation added wireless Internet access in the college’s area, 24-hour computer lab access and two classrooms equipped with interactive Smartboards, digital cameras, scanners and printers.
The longest-running residential college, the Honors College, provides optional housing for its students in the Laville Halls.
“It’s not a traditional residential college, but a mini-campus,” LaValle said. Students can take interdisciplinary classes, such as Western Civilization, which are team-taught by professors from different colleges, in classrooms in East and West Laville Halls.
Eli Meaux, an English literature freshman who lives in East Laville, said although the close proximity of classes is a benefit, he has not seen the benefits of groupwork in these classes.
“Students only get together right before exams, and even then it is not very effective,” Meaux said.