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Phone: 545-2882 Director: Joseph J. Battista, Jr. Associate Director: Thrse Pasquale While the large size of the University provides students with numerous educational opportunities, many find it easier to adjust if they can participate in a smaller, more personalized educational experience, especially during their first year. Residential Academic Programs provide a small college environment on a large university campus. RAP works with academic departments and Housing Services to offer a variety of academic programs in the residence halls as a means of improving academic adjustment of first-year students and allowing upperclass students to pursue more specialized academic interests. All courses offered through Residential Academic Programs are regular departmental courses and most carry General Education credit. Residential First-Year Programs Students entering a large university usually face two major tasks in their first semester. They need to respond to the greater intellectual demands of the University, and to build satisfying and supportive peer relationships. Research has shown that it is difficult for students to accomplish both these tasks at the same time unless they can develop friendships through their academic work. General Education Programs In order to participate
in a General Education First-Year Program, students must register for
at least two residential courses in each of their first two semesters
at the University. These courses include the required Writing course ("College
Writing"), and offerings from other departments that fulfill General Education
Talent Advancement Programs Talent Advancement First-Year Programs (TAP) are designed for students in particular majors and include the College Writing course, required departmental courses and a unique one-credit faculty seminar which explores topics in the major field. All TAP Programs are located in the Southwest Residential Area except the Engineering Program, which has two housing options, one in the Northeast Residential Area and one at Orchard Hill. During the spring prior to matriculation, incoming students are invited to participate in Talent Advancement Programs. Registration takes place during summer orientation. Programs include: Biological Sciences-Designed for majors in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and for Pre-Med students, this program features live-in upperclass biological sciences mentors. Communication-This program for Pre-Communication students provides small sections of introductory courses in the major. Computer Science-Open to Computer Science majors, the program offers courses in the major as well as calculus and features a live-in, upperclass, computer science mentor. Engineering-Coordinated by a graduate engineering student in residence, this program offers courses in the major, chemistry, and calculus. English-This program for Pre-English majors provides introductory level writing and literature courses. Environmental Sciences-Open to Environmental Sciences majors, the program offers several introductory courses each semester. Exercise Science-This program features discussion sections of courses in the major as well as a live-in upperclass mentor. Management-Designed for students accepted to the Isenberg School of Management, this program offers economics courses and a special one-credit seminar. Mathematics-Participants enroll in an appropriate level of calculus each semester. Nursing-This program is open to Pre-Nursing majors who enroll in a special seminar and courses required for the major. Physical Sciences-For Chemistry and Physics majors, this program features live-in upperclass physical sciences mentors. Political Science - For students accepted to the major, this program offers small sections of introductory courses. Psychology-Designed for Pre-Psychology students, the program features small sections of Elementary Psychology and Statistics. Thatcher Foreign Language House The Thatcher Language Programs for French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, and Italian provide an opportunity for students interested in practicing a foreign language to live together in a residence hall. Students in the Language Programs agree to speak the language as often as possible. Each semester participants enroll in a required two-credit course, taught in the hall by the graduate student coordinator, which focuses on developing conversational skills and engaging in cultural activities. Some skill in the language and concurrent enrollment in an appropriate three-credit departmental language course are prerequisites for acceptance to the Thatcher Foreign Language House. The Language Programs are part of the Thatcher Foreign Language-International House, a residence hall dedicated to foreign language learning and international cultures. For further information, contact Thrse Pasquale at the RAP Office, B-35 Brett House; tel. (413) 545-2882; e-mail: t.pasquale@umassp.edu. Diversity Courses The academic programs in the residence halls provide opportunities for students to become aware of and value human diversity. These opportunities include multiple sections of a General Education course, EDUC 210 Social Diversity in Education, taught by Education faculty and graduate students from the Social Justice Education Program of the School of Education. This course is available to residence hall students. It combines concepts and skills which help students develop an appreciation for social and cultural differences and enables them to interrupt the negative effects of discrimination and group stereotyping. Additional social issues courses are administered through this unit of Residential Academic Programs and offered in residence hall classrooms. Residential Arts Program Residential Arts, a program of the Fine Arts Center, works collaboratively with Residence Life, Auxiliary Services, and Student Affairs to provide campuswide coordination of arts and cultural programs throughout the residence hall system. The program serves as an arts and educational resource for the entire campus, surrounding colleges, and community-based cultural organizations. Residential Arts has contributed to efforts to create a more positive and humanistic atmosphere for residence hall students and the entire campus community. It also provides a means for interdepartmental and university-community collaboration in the arts. Special Interest Residential Programs (SIRPS) The Residence Life Program of Housing Services offers several residentially based special interest programs, some of which have an academic component. Created by students and staff to enrich the on-campus living experience through cultural, educational, and social activities, the special interest housing programs are an enjoyable and worthwhile way to meet people who share your interests and concerns.
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