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LIFE is an academic enrichment program for first-year students. LIFE is designed to integrate academic and real-life experiences by having students live and work together in a learning community. Here's how it works: In small groups, what we call a LIFE cluster, freshmen are co-enrolled in several courses organized around an academic theme and enrichment activities. Students in LIFE clusters live in a designated residence hall and are enrolled in a 1-credit seminar, UNIV 101, facilitated by a peer mentor, an advanced undergraduate with a strong academic record. The peer mentor leads the seminar and activities such as service learning projects, study and discussion groups, and a final group-project designed by the students. In addition, each cluster has a LIFE Mentor to ensure a quality academic experience.
The purpose of LIFE is to create a small community of students within the larger campus setting, a community that can support its members in academic work as well as in the residential setting. We want the cluster students to encourage and support each other as they acquire study skills, good study habits, and knowledge of learning resources.
Goals of the LIFE program are to:
- Improve students' academic performance.
- Foster thematic integration of introductory courses.
- Strengthen faculty-student contact.
- Personalize the university setting.
- Enrich students' experiences.
Participation in LIFE benefits students in the following ways:
- Early and meaningful engagement with the University.
- Guided introduction to university intellectual life.
- Active participation in a residential learning community.
- Friendships based on shared interests.
- Guaranteed enrollment in cluster courses.
- Guaranteed housing for residential clusters.
In addition to co-enrolling in their cluster courses, students take a 1-credit seminar, UNIV 101. The seminar counts toward graduation as a free elective. This seminar provides structured, regular time for the LIFE cluster students to meet with peer mentors. This meeting time is mandatory. Students engage in discovery-based learning such as service activities, problem-solving and critical thinking. UNIV 101 culminates in a collaborative, reflective project related to the theme of the cluster. Students present their projects at an end of the semester exhibit known as LIFE Fest.
Peer mentors are students who have completed the first year, have a major that is related to the cluster, have at least a 2.8 GPA, and who have chosen to apply for the position because they like working with people. Peer mentors are trained by an interdisciplinary group of professionals and faculty from the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Academic Enrichment Center, and Career Services Center.
Yes. The LIFE courses have been carefully chosen to fulfill basic requirements for the university, colleges and majors.
Yes. You need to take additional courses to be a full-time student. Twelve credits is the minimum full-time load, and most freshmen take fifteen to sixteen credits. At DelaWorld 101 - orientation for new students in the summer, advisors help you choose a selection of courses that match your interests.
Students should enroll in the full set of courses within the LIFE cluster. If you have AP credits that may count for one or more of the LIFE courses, please tell your advisor at DelaWorld 101 - orientation for new students.
Yes. You have many opportunities to interact with students who are not part of the LIFE program. For example, the courses that you take with your cluster include students who are not participating in the LIFE program, so you are exposed to other points of view and perspectives. You will take other courses outside of your cluster. You will live in a residence hall with other students who are not part of LIFE, and in your residence hall you will have many opportunities to interact with all residents.
Students in the LIFE program live in all freshman areas on campus.
LIFE ran as a pilot program for the first time in fall and spring of the 2000-2001. The program has arisen from discussions among the faculty over the last four years, as a special faculty committee studied the undergraduate experience at Delaware and at other schools. LIFE is just one facet of a larger agenda to revamp the undergraduate curriculum at Delaware, to make sure that we meet the needs of today's students.
LIFE is coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and involves a broad group of people from across campus, including the offices of the Deans of all the colleges, college advisement offices, Housing, Residence Life, the Center for Teaching Effectiveness, Undergraduate Admissions, the Registrar¹s Office, and the Academic Enrichment Center. The faculty for the cluster courses and the peer mentors are the heart of the LIFE program. A special committee of the University Faculty Senate is charged with program evaluation; they make sure that the program meets its goals.
There are no intended added costs for this program. Funding is provided for each cluster to help offset part of the costs for special academic enrichment events, such as field trips. Some clusters may decide to participate in events that are strictly social, and, in that case, students are expected to pay their own way.
There are no special scholarships for the LIFE program. Like all students, LIFE students may qualify for the University's standard financial aid and scholarship packages. All questions about financial aid or scholarships should be addressed to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, (302) 831-8761.
E-mail:life-mail@udel.edu
Telephone: (302) 831-3330
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