University students' newest housing option, the International Residential College, has elicited positive feedback from both students and faculty involved in the endeavor.
The IRC is home to 320 University students, a quarter of whom are international, said Brad Brown, principal of the IRC and associate professor in the Commerce School.
Located on Sprigg Lane, the IRC fills the Munford, Gwathmey, Lewis and Hoxton residence halls.
"Everything is coming together" even though it is early in the year, said second-year College student Harriet Gore, a resident of the IRC and liaison to Mosaic House.
Mosaic House is a residence hall designed to bring together students of different cultural backgrounds. Even with the inception of the IRC, which has similar goals, students will continue to live in Mosaic House in the Hoxton residence hall. Mosaic House residents are invited to participate in IRC activities.
"The students [in the IRC] are getting organized," Brown said. But it is "so soon after the start-up that we're still talking about how great it's going to be" and have a lot of planning left to do.
The IRC's main goal now is to continue to "bring together a cohesive community" among its residents, Gore said.
Among the IRC's 320 residents are 60 first-year students.
Much like many first years find a camaraderie in a hall or suite in old or new dorms, "we have our own community," said first-year College student Drew Matz. "We all know everyone's names."
First-year College student Meghan Darney said she already has seen a bond emerge among the residents.
"Whether they were put [in the IRC] or applied, everyone gets along really well," Darney said.
The IRC's original plan called for 60 first years to live in the residence hall. Fewer than 60 first-year students applied to live in the IRC so before school started the Housing Division filled the remaining spaces with students who did not receive rooms in the McCormick Road and Alderman Road residence halls.
Both Matz and Darney said they plan to live in the IRC next year.
According to Brown, the renovations to the IRC's residence halls have been successful and the students are looking forward to future improvements.
Among the improvements are upgraded kitchens and more lighting, which has created better studying conditions in the lounges. Plans are underway for a movie-viewing screen in the main lounge, Brown said.
Brown is in the process of moving into Morea House, a residential space that is part of the IRC because he is principal of the IRC, responsible for overseeing daily life and activities.
Director of Studies Marga Odahowski, the other on-site faculty member, will live in Little Morea House, another on-site residence.
Tabitha Gray, assistant dean of students for residence life, said the input she has heard from the IRC's resident staff has been encouraging.
"I think people are looking forward to the programs, especially the international ones and those with a global focus," Gray said.
Feedback from faculty also has been very positive, said Barbara Nolan, vice provost and chairwoman of the committee that created the final proposal for the IRC.
Faculty members "seem to be very excited about having a real physical center for [international] activity," Nelson said.
Read More
Spanberger shares hope of sweeping victory to Albemarle Democrats
By Ford McCracken | 9 hours agoSpanberger will face Republican Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears Nov. 4 for a chance to become the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first female governor.
Students say package deliveries are unpredictable on 14th Street
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayStudents say delivery drivers are careless when placing packages on doorsteps, sometimes resulting in delivery to an entirely wrong building.
From the Archives: Celebration and Reflection (4/28 - 5/4)
By Clara Franklin and Annabelle Nee | YesterdayFrom The Purple Shadows breaking into the Dean of Students’s office to multiple student athletes accused of honor code violations, the graduating class’s four years were a wild ride.
