New Spiders Blog

The Collegian is the student run campus newspaper. It is published weekly and available on Thursday afternoons all around campus and online at www.thecollegianur.com

The Collegian is a great source of information about what is going on in Richmond, on campus, and a way to find out what major changes are coming from the administration or students. The opinion section (for which I have written) is a place for students to speak out and express their views or encourage the rest of us to take action on something. It can also be the location of that week’s latest controversy or scandal whenever something big happens that is worth making the front page. Often the topics discussed in The Collegian find their way into classroom discussions or dhall convos and facilitate a larger campus-wide conversation on the topic of the day/week/month, etc. For example, last year one of the major debates on campus was the “trayless” controversy at dhall. Students are always welcome to write letters to the editor, guest columns or serve as staff reporters and photographers. The office is in the basement of North Court and positions can be applied for at the end of each Spring semester.

Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) was founded in 2004. CCE provides intellectual, experiential, and physical space for the coordination of community-based learning efforts in the Greater Richmond community.

It is located in Tyler Haynes Commons and aims to help students, faculty, and community partners work together in order to understand the factors that contribute to local, national, and global social and civic problems.

The CCE’s programs and initiatives, which bring together campus and community members, include the following:

• The Bonner Scholars Program awards scholarships to students performing weekly community service.
• Build It places students in Northside Richmond on a weekly basis to serve as tutors, mentors, coaches, readers, and administrative support to schools and nonprofit organizations.
• Community-based learning refers to courses in which students learn in both classroom and community settings.
• The Richmond Families Initiative supports the development of stable, healthy families in collaboration with nonprofit partners by engaging students and faculty through sustained community-based learning, research, and service projects.
• Fellowships support students who intern in the nonprofit or government sectors and students who undertake research related to social and civic issues.
• The ESL Tutoring Project connects students with non-native staff members who wish to improve their English skills.
• The Alliance for Civic Engagement assists leaders from various civic-minded student organizations through collaboration on programming and outreach.
• The College Mentoring Project pairs University of Richmond students with Richmond Community High School juniors needing assistance with the college-application process.

Applying for medical school can be complicated, so it’s important to plan ahead and make the right contacts if you’re thinking about going this route.  We highly recommend that pre-med/pre-health students contact Richmond’s pre-health advisor, Dr. John Vaughan, before planning their schedules.   Being a pre-health student, I’ve been in contact with Dr. Vaughan since freshman year and he has been a huge help in deciding what classes are right for me and helping me prepare for nursing school after graduation.

Dr. Vaughan’s e-mail address is jvaugha2@richmond.edu and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to hear from incoming students over the summer. Even if you haven’t made up your mind yet, it wouldn’t hurt to shoot him an e-mail and see what the options are!

Registration is in just a couple of weeks. Ahhhhhh, it brings back such fond memories. I remember being an incoming Richmond student, back in the summer of 2006. I had never glanced at Bannerweb or the selection of classes before registration opened up. I didn’t even know there was a list I could look at. On the day that registration opened, I went to work at my usual time of 6:00 in the morning, and didn’t return until after 5 pm. I ate a leisurely dinner, and then decided I should probably look at Bannerweb and see what all the hullabaloo about registration was. I began to look for classes that would be fun. To my supreme dismay and surprise, I realized that all the classes I was interested in were not available for me. Alright, I thought, I’ll try some others. They, too, were filled. In panic, I began to pick rather obscure classes just to make sure that the website was working. Unbelievably, those classes were filled, too. How can this be, I asked?! How do they expect us to register if they are all full!?

Over an hour later, and after much frustration, anguish, and confusion, I emerged, registered for 4 classes. They weren’t the classes I wanted, but they would at least fulfill some general education requirements. I was much relieved, needless to say. So, what is the point of my rambling nostalgia?

I don’t want you, my dear readers, to make the same mishaps that I foolishly committed as a naive incoming student. Fortuantely, you are much better informed than I ever was, and you have your handy dandy Peer Advisors to guide you (a luxury I was not offered!). Registration can be a highly frustrating time. So, make it easier on yourself. In advance, well in advance, please make a list of all the possible classes you would be interested in, and come up with a variety of schedules. The more time you put into this the easier registration will be. Inevitably some classes you want will be filled by the time you register. Yes, it’s frustrating, but unfortunately all you can do is accept it and look at your backup schedules. This will really spare you much confusion. Registration is all about speed and preparedness: if you register early and fast, and if you have a backup (or two or three!) in mind, you will be in a much better position than poor ol’ me.

Take it from me. Don’t do what I did and wing it. Sit down for a few hours and get those backup schedules going!

Those of you who have already been contacted by your PAA know the dates of registration. For those who haven’t yet, it’s important that you keep these dates in mind. It’s an exciting time when registering for classes and we want to make sure that this is a great experience for you. If you click on the following link, you will go to the site containing all the information regarding how to register:  http://newspiders.richmond.edu/academic/bannerweb.html

If you have any more questions, you can email your PAA and they will be happy to answer. HAPPY SCHEDULING! SEE YOU ALL IN AUGUST!

University of Richmond offers many study abroad possibilities. Going abroad for a semester or a year is a great way to experience new cultures, new places, and new people. Every year over 300 Richmond students experience those things living and studying abroad. While gaining this lifetime experience, these students also earn credit toward their degree. University of Richmond offers 75 study abroad programs in 30 countries! Also, if you prefer going abroad during the summer break, the Office of International Education at the University of Richmond will help you chose a summer study abroad program with one of their partner universities around the world. For those of you who enjoy doing social service, it is also possible to find out about many work and volunteer opportunities. In general, there are many great opportunities the University of Richmond offers, so maybe consider experiencing some other corners of the earth.

For more information about study abroad programs please visit: http://studyabroad.richmond.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.Home

Hey everybody!I remember that when I was preparing to move to Richmond last fall, one of the most confusing aspects of the University was its unique “coordinate college system.”  What exactly is a coordinate college system?  What are the benefits of such a system? And how does this distinctive feature affect the daily lives of students at the University?  Hopefully, this post will answer some of your questions concerning Richmond’s coordinate college system.A quick history lesson: Richmond College was founded in 1830 as a small seminary for men under the sponsorship of the Virginia Baptist Education Society.  Ten years later, Richmond College was officially chartered as a liberal arts and sciences college (for men) by the Virginia General Assembly. By 1914 the college was looking to expand, so the decision was made to move the college to its current location at Westhampton Lake, in the suburbs of the City of Richmond.  At this time, Westhampton College - a college of liberal arts and sciences exclusively for women - was established on the same campus on the other side of the lake.  Despite the fact that these two institutions shared a campus, they remained mostly separate until the early 1970s, when the modern coordinate college system began to take shape.Today, the coordinate system fully incorporates the two colleges that comprise the University of Richmond: Richmond College for men and Westhampton College for women. Although the coordinate colleges have existed since 1914, they have continually evolved and modernized over the years.  The single greatest benefit of Richmond’s coordinate system is that the two Colleges are able to provide a “progressive, innovative, and gender-focused approach to student development.”According to the Dean’s office for Richmond College and the Dean’s office for Westhampton College, the coordinate system promotes the personal development of students in four primary ways: “The coordinate system promotes affinity.  The coordinate system develops leadership.  The coordinate system enhances student learning.  The coordinate system provides support.”While I often tell prospective students that if I didn’t mention that Richmond had a coordinate college system they wouldn’t be able to tell, there are definitely subtle ways that Richmond’s system differs from the standard co-educational system found at other colleges and universities.  First, the long-standing traditions of the coordinate colleges (such as Proclamation Night, Investiture Night, Homecoming Dance, Ring Dance, etc.) foster life-long friendships among the women of Westhampton College and an enduring fellowship among Richmond College Men.  Second, the coordinate system provides double the opportunities for involvement and leadership positions in student government, residence life, honor council, judicial council, and orientation then one would find at a regular co-educational institution.  Third, specialized living and learning programs and individual interactions promote uniquely gender-focused opportunities for personal growth and development.  Finally, the coordinate colleges provide unparalleled student support by monitoring the academic and co-curricular progress of each student.Speaking from personal experience, I would say that the area where the coordinate system is most prevalent is in the separate deans offices for each college.  This separation serves to allow each office to better cater to the individualized concerns of Richmond and Westhampton students.  Furthermore, the separation of student governments allows for much more student voice in how the school is run.It is undeniable that Richmond College and Westhampton College exemplify the philosophy of coordinate education. Coordinate education at the University of Richmond provides for easily identifiable student bodies, dual student governments, and a dean and activities for each residential college. And of course, a coordinate education offers the instructional and social benefits usually reserved for colleges and universities with much larger student bodies.Hopefully this post has answered many of your questions concerning a unique and distinctive feature of the Richmond education!

Just to share a little story…I came to UR excited about my Business classes ready to take on college as an economics major. So I took two econ classes - pretty good, but eh, maybe not my major. So I decided I’d do Finance. I took Accounting 201 and 202 and my world changed. I’m going to be an Accountant! Accounting is so interesting, I said.Now I’m going to be a junior in the fall. It’s the summer. I’ve spent my summer getting trained to be an EMT, shadowing doctors, learning anatomy, and watching Discovery Health. I decided that a career in medicine is now way more interesting than a career in business. So I dropped Accounting 301 and Business statistics, and registered for Chem 141. I’m now (planning on) going to med school shortly after graduating (if I get in).So I asked Dr. Vaughan, the director of pre-health studies, if this was normal. His response: Absolutely. One of the beauties of a liberal arts school like UR is the ability to take classes here and there and everywhere. Are there music majors that end up in law school? Absolutely. Biology majors that end up in Business? Probably. Take whatever you want. Your interests will change. Your major will change. It’s OK! 

Do you need a break? Are you a little tired of studying? Are you up to your eyeballs in assignments? Is your roommate getting on your nerves? Is there just too much commotion in your Residence Hall? Sometimes you just need a place to go and relax your mind, body and spirit. Listed below are some places on campus that my friends and I have used to escape for a little R & R (rest and relaxation). Whether it’s visiting a friend’s room or sitting on the bricks by the lake, it’s always a great feeling to have that special “getaway”.

• The Library “Quiet Room” located on the 2^nd Floor of Boatwright Memorial Library

• The Westhampton Lake

• The Nature Trail

• The Weinstein Center (Gym)

• The Garden adjacent to The Chapel

• The Gazebo located on the opposite side of the Lake near the bridge

• The “Secret Garden” located behind Keller Hall

• “8:15″ which is Richmond’s own Coffee Shop

• The “Fountain” located in between Richmond Hall, Puryear Hall & Maryland Hall

CAUTION: This R & R is only a temporary getaway. If more is needed, there is a counseling center available.

http://caps.richmond.edu

Housing is another fun and exciting aspect of Freshman year! When filling out the housing forms make sure you are honest. The University does a great job with matching people as roommates.  One suggestion is once you find out your roommate make sure to call or email them and coordinate who is bringing what for the dorm: refrigerator, TV, microwave etc!

What to Pack

The University of Richmond has some recommendations found here: http://oncampus.richmond.edu/univhousing/housing/newstudent/thingstobring.htm

From my own experience here are some things not to forget:

• Computer
• Printer (not necessary –but convenient)
• Desk Lamp
• Desk Drawer Organizers
• Floor Lamps
• Extension Cords (must be fireshield brand –available in the bookstore)
• Drying Rack
• Hangers
• Shower Shoes and a shower basket
• First Aid/Medicine (the health center is great but its always good to have your own things available whenever you need)
• Laundry Hamper/Bag
• Fan
• Flashlight for power outages (no candles allowed)
• Alarm Clock– I would suggest battery powered. They are more dependent in case of power outages!
• Bed Lamp (remember no halogen bulbs!)