ASPIRE

Academic Scholars in Residential Environment Living & Learning Community

“I like to be intellectually challenged, so the ASPIRE Living & Learning Community enabled me to become a better student in the classroom. The Community was an ideal environment for me to focus on my academic future and provided me the tools to get there.”

Nijmah Shabazz
Richard Bland College of William & Mary ’18
Virginia Commonwealth University ’20
Career Goal: Biology/Pre-Med

ASPIRE Living & Learning Community

The ASPIRE Living & Learning Community (Academic Scholars Program in Residential Environment) focuses on fostering academic excellence. Students participating in this Community are exposed to special opportunities and programs that reinforce academic commitment, build relationships, focus their passions, and encourage curiosity & commitment to lifelong service. Students who join ASPIRE are required to live in Patriot Hall.

Mission
To provide residential students the opportunity to live and learn in an inclusive and holistic environment by offering students both social and educational programs designed to challenge and encourage a desire for learning.

Purpose
To help facilitate retention and develop a culture of learning and service among residential students by surrounding students with various support structures to encourage academic rigor and life-skill building through an integrated mentorship programming approach.

Contact
nwatkins@rbc.edu

Program Benefits
- ASPIRE students will:
  - Exhibit critical and reflective thinking
  - Engage in the campus and residential environments
  - Model responsible decision-making and personal accountability
  - Work effectively in groups
  - Develop leadership skills, such as leading change, listening, resolving conflicts positively, and motivating others
  - Opportunity to interact with others who share a similar interests, academic program or personal goals.
Qualifications
- - All students must have a 3.0 GPA of higher before applying
  - Live with other students who are in the ASPIRE Program
  - A student that has a high interest in academics.
Student Responsibilities
- - Students must earn 100 Engage RBC points per semester
  - Maintain GPA of a 3.0 or higher
  - Attend monthly community meetings
  - Meet with ASPIRE advisor on a need be basis
  - Students will be required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of service per semester
Program Snapshot
- The ASPIRE Living Learning Community is a residential community designed for students with a 3.0 or higher-grade point average. ASPIRE is a living & learning community-driven by a program model comprised of four components: academic excellence, mentorship & leadership development, campus engagement and community outreach
Academic Excellence
- Academic Excellence programs and activities are designed to challenge and encourage students to maximize their potential to learn and become leading thinkers and achievers by surrounding students with support structures needed to encourage academic excellence.
Mentorship & Leadership
- Mentorship & Leadership Development programs provide students 1:1 contact with residence hall staff that will empower them to form relationships. Programs are designed to help students develop effective leadership skills not only through training, but by also providing opportunities to put these skills into action, both on campus and in the community.
Campus Engagement
- Campus Engagement programs/activities are designed to engage RBC students in the college community by providing intentional social interactions, encouraging diversity & building campus connections within Richard Bland College
Community Outreach
- Community Outreach activities will introduce students to the importance of service in the surrounding communities. Students will be required to complete 15 hours of service per semester. Students can also expect to participate in various projects around Richard Bland College.