Faculty members interact with students in unique and important ways when they become part of the Faculty In Residence Education (FIRE) Program. Faculty-led programs and general faculty involvement in the residence halls provide special opportunities to foster both intellectual and personal development for students. In each of our residential communities, faculty members collaborate with residence hall staff members to develop and implement a variety of programs and interactions that range from community-building activities to academic and intellectual discussions.
Goals for the program include intentional interactions between students and faculty which include exchanging ideas, participating in intellectual development activities, sharing career experience knowledge and making personal connections. Faculty are able to participate in various programs, act as mentors and role models, assist students to accomplish various learning outcomes and become a cherished part of the community.
A variety of positions exist for faculty to get involved with the Living-Learning and the Faculty in Residence Education Programs. Those positions include:
Faculty Greeter
Faculty Fellow
Faculty Mentor (First Year Experience)
Faculty in Residence (FIR)
Faculty Greeters meet and mingle with students and families as they check into the residence halls during Welcome Week. Greeters may receive questions about academic concerns as well as questions regarding general campus information. This is a great way to welcome students to NDSU and meet parents and family members too! There are multiple places on campus where Faculty Greeters are present including residence halls and the Memorial Union.
Faculty Fellows enter into the residence halls and interact with students creating a living-learning environment. Research has shown that a strong connection between students and faculty outside of the classroom significantly impacts students' success in college. Faculty fellows have opportunities to participate in hall events including hall government, hall programs, study groups, and many other events that occur on campus.
Faculty fellows are similar to the FYE faculty mentors in time commitment of one hour a week. The most significant difference is that faculty fellows interact with all levels of college students (freshman through senior).
Faculty Mentors are involved with the First Year Experience (FYE) Program and are valuable members of a learning team. Each learning team consists of Resident Assistants, the Hall Director and the Faculty Mentor. Each learning team has access to additional support through connections with the ACE tutoring program. Members of the learning teams work together to help first-year students make a successful transition from high school to college. Faculty Mentors have the opportunity to reach students through a variety of experiences outside the formal classroom.
Faculty Mentors are asked to: meet monthly with the designated learning team; spend approximately one hour per week with students in the residence halls attending programs, student events, hall government meetings, etc.; help during the "Welcome Week" events; participate in the FYE Welcome event; and participate in the First Year Experience (FYE) training and scheduled meetings.
Faculty in Residence: This program provides a faculty member the unique opportunity to interact with students outside of the classroom in meaningful and enriching ways that connect the living-learning environments. The faculty person in this position lives on campus in the Living and Learning Center (LLC) and serves as a role model, an educator, and a leader. This is an exciting opportunity offered within the Department of Residence Life. For further information about the Faculty In Residence Program, click on the following link.