Collegiate Times

West Ambler Johnson, home to residential college students, recently reopened after renovations. In order to live here, students must apply.

The start of the fall semester  marked the beginning of a new opportunity in residential life on Virginia Tech’s campus. Students can now live at the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a community committed to diversity among students and building community.

The college is currently home to 800 students, ranging from freshmen to graduate students.  Students were invited to apply during the spring of last year, and there was a waiting list for the 320 slots set aside for upper division students.

To create a more intimate feel, the college is divided into four houses, named Hawthorn, Hickory, Holly and Honeylocust. Each house has resident advisers, graduate fellow and associate faculty principal. Additionally, Ben Sax, an assistant professor in the religion and culture department, serves as a live-in faculty principal for the college.

A variety of programs and opportunities are available to students in the residential college, also known as West AJ.

According to Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Frank Shushok, these programs identify with the philosophy of residential college life.

“The kind of events and activities that take place within the college will emerge from the personality of the faculty principals, house councils and the college council as a whole,” Shushok said. “Events that will be held this semester include weekly dinners within each of the four houses, social activities with guest speakers held in the faculty principal’s home, and many others.”

The residential college model is for students who are looking to find a strong sense of community. Residents are expected to stay for as many as two, three or even four years; students could live in the same facility for their entire undergraduate career.

Abby Baer is a junior psychology and sociology major and resident of the Holly House in West AJ. Baer said she values the mentorship component of the college.

“I lived off campus last year and I wanted to move into West AJ because it seemed like a great way to meet new freshmen,” said Baer. “As an upperclassman in the residential college, I have the opportunity to serve as a mentor to the younger students and welcome them into the Tech family.”

According to Shushok, there is an expectation that new students in the college receive guidance from upper division students. When they return as upper classmen, they become mentors themselves for new students and provide the same support.

“The greatest benefit is the openness of all the students,” Baer said. “Just by seeing all of the positive attitudes and friendliness, you can tell that everyone is there to get to know one another.... Age and differences don’t matter because we all live in the same hall.”

Guidance is also expected to come from the faculty members involved. Sax and his family live in an apartment facility in the residential college, and they often open their doors for tea and events with students.

“There is also a high level of faculty engagement, which is a very valuable part of the experience,” Shushok said. “We have a strong culture and it’s for students who really want to be invested in that type of model. It’s not necessarily better, it’s just different.”

The newly renovated dorm building is larger than its counterpart, East AJ, which was renovated and opened to Honors College students last year. 

The four houses are all named after trees that grow in Virginia. The name choices are meant to highlight Tech’s background as a land-grant institution. In addition, they all start with the letter ‘H’ because of Tech’s ties to the 4-H program, an agriculturally focused youth organization program.

There is no GPA or SAT requirement for applicants, but there is a commitment requirement. The application requires students to articulate whether or not they are committed to an investment in that kind of model and community.

According to Shushok, intellectual discussion and engagement with faculty makes the community a holistic student experience.

In the next 10 years, Residence Life hopes to convert three more existing residence halls into residential colleges.

“The program is going extremely well and feedback from students was astounding. All indications are that it has been a successful start for the development for residential colleges for the future,” Shushok said there is an expectation that new students in the college receive guidance from upper division students. When they return as upper classmen, they become 

students and provide the same support.

“The greatest benefit is the openness of all the students,” Baer said. “Just by seeing all of the positive attitudes and friendliness, you can tell that everyone is there to get to know one another.... Age and differences don’t matter because we all live in the same hall.”

Guidance is also expected to come from the faculty members involved. Sax and his family live in an apartment facility in the residential college, and they often open their doors for tea and events with students.

“There is also a high level of faculty engagement, which is a very valuable part of the experience,” Shushok said. “We have a strong culture and it’s for students who really want to be invested in that type of model. It’s not necessarily better, it’s just different.”

The newly renovated dorm building is larger than its counterpart, East AJ, which was renovated and opened to Honors College students last year. 

The four houses are all named after trees that grow in Virginia. The name choices are meant to highlight Tech’s background as a land-grant institution. In addition, they all start with the letter ‘H’ because of Tech’s ties to the 4-H program, an agriculturally focused youth organization program.

There is no GPA or SAT requirement for applicants, but there is a commitment requirement. The application requires students to articulate whether or not they are committed to an investment in that kind of model and community.

According to Shushok, intellectual discussion and engagement with faculty makes the community a holistic student experience.

In the next 10 years, Residence Life hopes to convert three more existing residence halls into residential colleges.

“The program is going extremely well and feedback from students was astounding. All indications are that it has been a successful start for the development for residential colleges for the future,” Shushok
said.

Follow this writer on Twitter @shayden

A version of this article appeared in the Aug 30 issue of the Collegiate Times.