Bearcat Living

What is Bearcat Living? 

The Bearcat Living model intentionally embraces the educational potential of residential living. 勛圖腦瞳扦 residents will be able to connect with others, become active members of the community, discover and appreciate differences and act with a sense of personal responsibility. 

The goals of Bearcat Living are to:

  • Create an intentional approach to residential living/learning, building upon the skills students are learning.
  • Capitalize on the skills and talents of Residential Life staff and campus partners.
  • Focus on the primary responsibilities of the area staff to encompass three broad themes.

Themes

The three themes of B-Connected are Community, Growth, and Independence. Each theme has its own set of objectives and outcomes achieved by completing the activities outlined in our facilitation guides.

  • Community

    It is Residential Lifes goal to engage with residents to build strong communities within which  students can experience a sense of belonging. Belonging is the feeling that members of a group or  community matter to one another and the group/community (Strayhorn, 2019). This theme  focuses on what we do to support students finding their community/ies on campus and what we  want students to learn about being a part of a community and from being part of a community. 

    Outcomes

    • Residents will be able to build relationships within and beyond their residential  community. 
    • Residents will be able to participate in their community by engaging in activities that  demonstrate their commitment to community members.  
    • Residents will be able to recognize their rights and responsibilities as members of a  community. 
  • Growth

    Personal growth is a process of ongoing development to improve oneself and to achieve ones  goals. Personal growth encompasses physical well-being, mental well-being, emotional well being, and academic success. Physical well-being serves as a foundation for all aspects of  personal growth; it includes such things as healthy eating, healthy activity, and healthy sleep  habits. Mental well-being contributes to overall personal growth due to its relationship to ones  ability to learn and to thrive. Mental well-being encompasses things such as stress management,  coping strategies, and resilience. Emotional well-being is closely related to mental well-being and  encompasses aspects such as self-awareness, healthy relationships, and sense of purpose.  Academic success is the identification, clarification, and achievement of ones educational goals  and preparation for ones post-college goals. It includes skill development, content mastery,  motivation, and the ability to apply ones learning to real-world situations. 

    Outcomes

    • Residents will be able to access campus resources related to their personal growth  (physical, mental, emotional, and academic success) needs 
    • Residents will be able to participate in and demonstrate stress management techniques 
    • Residents will be able to create a plan for participating in healthy behaviors and activities
  • Independence

    The independence theme is what is commonly called adulting. It refers to the transition from  adolescence to adulthood to take on responsibility for oneself. This theme deals with the skills  and responsibilities that are necessary to navigate adult life. Independence is behaving in a  mature and responsible manner in handling tasks and responsibilities. It includes independent  problem-solving and the use of available resources to support and aid in solving problems.  

    Outcomes

    Residents will be able to solve some problems independently 

    Residents will be able to match campus resources to their needs 

    Residents will be able to perform basic life skills safely 

Bearcat Living Vocabulary 

  • Educational Priority
    The departments overarching objectives for student learning and skill development within the residence halls.
  • Learning Goal 
    A more specific statement that articulates what students will learn. Guided by our educational priority and university mission.
  • Outcome
    Assessment term describing what a resident should take away from each objective.
  • Strategy
    A method that Residential Life staff use to engage residents and achieve learning goals.
  • Traditions
    Community-specific activities that area governments or Residential Life professional staff manage.
  • Assessment 
    Gathering data to determine whether Bearcat Living is meeting its goals, and using that data to improve Bearcat Living and the residential experience.

Bearcat Living Strategies

  • Floor Meeting
    A gathering of the floor/building or community.
  • Bearcat Gatherings
    Small informal social activities to connect residents with one another in the community.
  • Social Media
    Used for departmental posts.
  • Passive Resources
    Educational bulletin boards, bathroom reader, door hangers, resources/programming attendance at other departments, process advertisement, lobby TV, tabling, giveaways, newsletters.
  • Community Builders
    Structured social activities planned for a floor of a residence hall, a building or the larger community.