ESF Learning Community
Accepted Undergraduate Students
Congratulations! What an exciting time it is for you! Your ESF career is already well on it's way and your first stop will be ESF's first year experience program: 'Evolutions! One of the components of Evolutions is our learning community program—living and learning together. As a first year ESF student living in Syracuse University housing, you're already a member of this community!
We are very excited about this endeavor and we are glad you'll be joining us. As you may have considered, being part of an ESF learning community is a special opportunity. It will provide you with a built-in peer support system, promote interaction with faculty and staff outside the traditional classroom environment, and it will facilitate your personal growth as you integrate academic and co-curricular experiences.
With these many benefits comes responsibility. We know the learning community experience can provide limitless possibilities for students. These possibilities however, are solely dependent upon your active involvement. What you will gain from this special opportunity will be in direct proportion to your own commitment. To ensure the educational objectives of this learning community, faculty and administrators have worked to define the following student rights and responsibilities. In addition to these rights and responsibilities are outlined expectations that will guide your experience both in and out of the classroom. We ask you to read these over and upon your careful consideration and agreement, complete the agreement by clicking on the link below. By agreeing to this statement, you are letting us know that you are as committed to your success as a member of the learning community as we are.
Student Rights
- Students in this learning community will live in a residential environment that facilitates and is conducive to learning.
- Students in this learning community will regularly interact with faculty and staff within the context of this program.
- Students in this learning community will be able to assist in the development of their living environment.
- Students in this learning community will be challenged to think and behave beyond the scope of their individual circumstances. Students will learn about each other and the many facets of community living and learning.
Student Responsibilities
- Students in this learning community will actively participate in the assignments and activities associated with this program. This includes academic and co-curricular (student life) offerings.
- Students in this learning community will take responsibility for their living environment by being active participants in floor activities and by holding each other accountable for inappropriate behavior.
- Students in this learning community will take advantage of the resources available to assist in their success.
- Students in this learning community are ultimately and personally responsible for their own learning, growth, and development.
Learning Community Expectations
- Take responsibility for your own learning. Demonstrate academic integrity as individuals and as a community.
- Be responsible to your community. Carefully use and protect shared resources such as bathrooms, lounge furniture, and other facilities.
- Take your commitment to the learning community and to one another seriously.
- Monitor your own behavior because it affects the whole community. Engaging in risky or unacceptable behaviors (such as alcohol and drug use) will not be tolerated.
- Hold one another accountable in a respectful way.
- Recognize and respect differences among community members. Insulting someone (their race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, background, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, or accent) is immature, unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Think before you speak.
- Be respectful of others' opinions. Listen when someone else is speaking. It is possible to disagree with another person and offer your own opinion without insulting the other person. It is essential that you learn how to do this.
- Be on time for class, for meetings, and for appointments. It is rude and disrespectful to be late.
- Monitor your behavior to be sure that you are helping to create rather than disrupt a positive learning environment.
- Challenge yourself to learn from new perspectives, even those that are uncomfortable at first.
There are two other items requiring your attention. First, '"The Syllabus" outlines the various components of the learning community program for the fall semester. It is inclusive of requirements for required course(s) and student life programs.
Next, you will find details about the required 'overnight retreat. This is an exciting and fun opportunity that has been described by past learning community students, as one of the best parts of the experience.
We all look forward to meeting you and we anticipate a very productive and fun year. You will receive your specific room assignment and roommate information from Syracuse University Housing in early August.
Remember, the possibilities are limitless. Are you ready?
