University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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Thematic Learning Communities made their debut in the Daisy Hill residence halls in the fall. -photos by Lauren Airey M11

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theyjust need a little TLC i lnenminn heshman nal a lillle elnsei lhan ihey may have liked wilh lhe new lhenalie learning Enmmurilies. liesnile their enrelanl nmximily, lheunh. lhese iesiilenlial and aeailemie eemmuniiies nmvided uselul links nn eamnus and all. Z5 I Freshman got a little closer to their neighbors this year. Not only did they share bathrooms and hall space, they shared academic advisers and even classrooms. Five residence halls: Oliver, Ellsworth, I-lashinger, McCollum and Lewis. planned to implement new living comm unities for students called Thematic Learning Communities. TLCs have been used across the country at places like the University of Nehraksa-Lincoln. Diana Robertson. associate director ofthe Department of Student Housing. said these types ofprograms had been successful elsewhere and were useful in getting students to be more active in their community. The residence halls had 12 communities, with themes ranging from science and ethics to film. Twenty students would participate in each community, living on the same floor and taking classes together. Each community had a Residential Peer Educator. an upperclassman in the same academic interest, as well as a resident assistant.Robertson said the PES would focus on academics. while RAS would handle discipline and floor community. PEs recieved seperate training and recieved free room and board in return for their contributions. Robertson said other people lived on the same floor as each TLC group, giving them a chance to meet other people. Designed for incoming freshman, students were enrolled in two thematieally related general education courses and a seminar course. Students weren't required to enroll in themes related to their majors, but they tended to grativate toward these. Linda Dixon. interim coordinator for the TLCS, said she sent information about the TLCS out with student housing in formation last year. There were 127 freshman who participated in the lall semester. Dixon said she was thinking of making the TLCS non- residential in the future, so students could live off-campus or in diflerent dorms. Some said they would miss out on the community leeling.As with any new program, of ficials vidll continue to work out the kinks in the new communities. l l if W' -r e- . ,ef -. lf.. '- W K .

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-re clockwise from left: Whether in the Wescoe Deli, the KU Bookstore or Watson Libraries, students and faculty helped campus run smoothly each day. Some students found their part-time on- campus jobs with University Career and Employment Services. fphotos by Joah Buchanan working hard lnrlhe money 'M f,i ' Q ,.gf' 'T . . rig:-v, f l i i .. 1 V ' i r l , tisiki-Qui' i V .fp ,fe ugrrmuz inf. We-sun M W WW i . or 'v I t.is :: j,, ' U SPD i-'lfit Some students have money to bttrn. For the FCSI ol'us. there are on- and olilearnpus jobs. Although few students look lorward to serving liiod. selling elothes or working on Campus lor minimum wage. part-time eampus jobs ean hate an upside. jobs that relate to speeiiie majors are ayailable and even some olileamptts jobs ean provide uselul skills lor the real world. The Student Employment Center at the University' sponsored a Student Employment ,lob Fair early in the lall semester in the Kansas Union. Sixteen employers from dilierent Univer- sity departments and 10 olileampus loeal employees were on hand lor students looking lor part-time work on earnptis. Ann Hartley. assoeiate direetor ol'Uniyersity' Career and Employ- ment Seryiees. said that the lair was down 10 employers doyyn from past years beeause of budget euts. making the lair more eompetitiye. Hartley said UCHS helped students eonneet with eareer-enhaneingjob opportunities through their Web site. www,ktt.c-ritt! Q uees. Although internships probably proyide the best opportunities to aequire eareer-related skills and resume-worthy eredentials. Hartley said that H01 all internships are lueratiye on the linaneial side. Many internships. she said. are unpaid. and students might need to take on a part-time-iob in addition to their internship. Hartley also suggested getting inyolyed with major-related eamptts organizations. Some student organizations. like the Uniyersity' Daily Kansan and Student Union Aetiyities. also olier paid leadership positions. Sometimes. though. stttdents are just trying to pay the bills by manning desks in the KU Libraries. the Hawk Shop or Daisy Hill dormitories. Whether helping in the deans oiiiee or preparing sandwiehes in the Weseoe deli. students were preparing themselyes lor life beyond the elassroom.