In the Sophomore Scholars in Residence (SSIR) program, sophomores with shared interests immerse themselves in an academic topic during a year in which they live, study, and travel together.
Learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom. SSIR takes the traditional coursework, reading, and research in class and adds experiential opportunities outside of class to further enhance learning.
During the fall semester, students conduct research that serves as the foundation for the capstone project they will create and present to the campus community at the end of the spring semester. Students have a number of outside-the-classroom experiences such as traveling together as a community, attending lectures and seminars, participating in service, meeting with leaders and experts in an area, and interacting with alumni.
Dedicated Faculty
SSIR courses are taught by dedicated and talented faculty members that serve as mentors to students within the SSIR community, guiding them in their research and academic pursuits. Faculty members prepare the experiential learning components for students and travel with them over weekends and breaks on planned community trips. While faculty members do not reside with the SSIR community, many hold office hours in the residence halls, teach in residence hall classrooms, and have meals with the students.
In addition to the faculty, students have the support of student development professionals from a variety of offices throughout the year.
Community of Students
SSIR students reside together in a co-ed residence hall. By surrounding themselves with other SSIR and living and learning communities, students have a multitude of opportunities to interact with students of differing backgrounds, all while having a shared SSIR experience.
Addressing the Challenges of Sophomore Year
Designed with the challenges of sophomore year in mind, SSIR supports students through their sophomore year with formal and informal opportunities to think critically about major and minor decisions, study abroad, careers and internships, diversity and inclusion, and citizenship. Students have social opportunities within SSIR, such as opportunities to get off campus, and have their comfort zone challenged by being exposed to new thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Number of students per community:
16
Residence halls:
Lakeview and Freeman Halls
Classes:
1 unit course in fall semester, .5 unit seminar in spring semester
Travel:
Varies by community, typically over break periods
Capstone presentation:
March–April
Application timeline:
February 12, 2012 for 2012–13
Additional cost to students:
None