Students, Professors Live, Learn Together

By LANITA WITHERS Staff Writer

ELON — They spent part of the evening together, listening to a presentation about Korea. Afterward, students from Elon University and their faculty advise rs dined on native Korean fare.

When the event was over, Hiromi Sumiyoshi , an adviser for Elons international students, just had to walk up a flight of stairs to her apartment in the on-campus dorm. Her counterpart, associate communications professor Jessica Gisclair, just had a quick stroll across the quad to her two-bedroom apartment in the nearby residence hall.

Sumiyoshi and Gisclair are two of four faculty members who live in residence halls at Elon, an arrangement that allows the instructors to interact with students outside the traditional classroom setting. The faculty members facilitate events in some of the universitys learning communities, groups of students who live together and share a common academic or social goal.

The concept of living learning is were trying to promote learning not just in the classroom, but also in the living area as well, said Sumiyoshi, who is also an assistant professor of foreign language.

The students dont give a second thought to the fact that professors are right down the hall.

Its nice having the professor down the hall, said sophomore Julie Kenneally, who added that Gisclair helps students understand university resources.

We do try to be respectful and not be really loud at night, Kenneally said.

The faculty members try to engage students with a variety of programs. Students from the international pavilion, which includes international students and domestic students interested in global studies, went on a tour of Washington during fall break. The honors pavilion has started an ongoing study of the culture and architecture of the South that will end with a spring trip to Charleston, S.C.

Learning communities are popular on college campuses. Elon has 11 of them including a Spanish immersion program and one that focuses on health and wellness with plans to start others.

Part of the appeal is because the communities offer students a chance to be around others who share similar interests, said Steve Anderson, Elons associate director of residence life and judicial affairs.

Participating students, some of whom had to apply to participate in the living learning programs, said they enjoy the close-knit nature of the programs.

I always have someone right down the hall to study with, said freshman Alyse Knorr, 18, who lives in the honors pavilion.

People at other schools dont know the people across the hall from them. I cant imagine not knowing everyone in my building.

Both Sumiyoshi and Gisclair enjoy the opportunity to live on campus.

Gisclair said she didnt give up her privacy or personal belongings to move to the apartment and, by living on campus, shes gained a better appreciation for her students.

I see how much work they actually do, how much studying they do, how much down time they have, I see them collaborating together, she said. I always did see them as adults, but I see them much more as adults with many things going on in their lives.

Some co-workers offered to be a refuge for Sumiyoshi when she chose to live on campus.

They said, Well if you need to get out or just leave, come to my house, she said. They think that (the students) drive me crazy and I cant live.

But real life is just the opposite.

I havent experienced anything that I cant stand, she said.

And, shes saving money. The apartments are rent-free for faculty, and since the office is just a quick walk away, the rise and fall of gas prices has been a moot point.

I cant remember the last time I pumped my gas, Sumiyoshi said.

Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lwithers@news-record.com