Refining a living and learning community for first year engineering students: the ASU perspective

Providing a supportive freshmen environment for just one academic year is both a challenge and an opportunity. The Office of Student Affairs in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in partnership with the departments of Residential Life and Student Development, provides a strong university, college, and residence hall support system. Enhancements to the residence life program initiated this year include: a new Assistant Director of Academic Support in Residence Life, a new Action Plan for the Resident Assistants in the residence hall, mandatory bi-weekly floor meetings, the Pizza with a Professor program, and notification of each department about students with midterm deficiencies. The enhancements are described and evaluated. In a continuing quality improvement process, over 120 of the 250 Fall 2001 students were surveyed. Their profile is analyzed. Major improvements and challenges still remaining in this living and learning community are discussed.