Imagine a community where you can live with your friends in Loyola Hall, pre-register for (and get) the classes you want, meet with mentors throughout the year, and find answers to the bigger questions in life-all among other things.
Imagine the Ignatian Residential College.
Last year at this time, directors of the Ignatian Residential College were busy proposing a theoretical plan to students who were interested in getting more out of their sophomore year.
“I really did enjoy being a part of it,” said Liz McCracken, ’04, a member of the I.R.C. “It was a great experience and the extra options, like speakers, were not mandatory, but great to have.”
The entire program is different this year-the once theoretical proposed program is now a reality that students can see and even the application process is different. Last year the application process was simply two short answer questions while this year there is a series of biographical questions, interest questions, and personal evaluation questions along with two, one page
In its first year, the goal was to have about 75 students in the program, but due to a greater interest the Ignatian College ended up having close to 135 students, according to Joe DeFeo, associate director of the Ignatian Residential College. The goal for the 2003-2004 school year is to register 200 students.
Ignatian College representatives sent campus-wide e-mails, went around to dorms providing information sessions and posted signs encouraging students to apply to the Ignatian Residential College before winter break.
Most of the applications received this winter were female applications, which set off the 50-50 male to female ratio.
“I remain confident that all the spots will be filled,” Deteo said. The Ignatian College will accept applications until all the spots are filled, according to Deteo.
Mentors and professors play an important role in the Ignatian Residential College. Currently there are 10 or 12 classes where Ignatian College students have first priority registration in, but that number is expected to be raised to 14 or 16 classes. The Ignatian College currently has about 13 mentors, which includes a mix of faculty, staff, and professors. This number is expected to jump to at least 30 mentors for next year.
Joe DeFeo is urging freshmen who are interested in applying to spend some time in Loyola talking to current Ignatian College students to gain a sense of the community that had developed in the dorm, as well as what the program itself is all about.
I.R.C. member Teig Lynster, ’04, would be more than happy to talk to potential candidates.
“Although the program was slow at the start, I enjoyed it and I think it will be much more organized next year,” Lynster said.
Call the Ignatian College office at extension 3325 for more information.
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