This fall, approximately 30 freshmen in Rider's Baccalaureate Honors Program (BHP) are not only taking "Great Ideas" and history classes together, they are also living at Ziegler Hall where they have greater opportunities to jointly engage in intellectual and social pursuits.

Sound like too much togetherness? Not so, according to those who are sharing this experience. In fact, many of the students requested this special interest housing option. The BHP is one of six learning communities and two theme-oriented communities on Rider's Lawrenceville campus. The others are: the Freshman Year-Experience in Conover Hall; University Studies Learning Community -- for undeclared majors -- in Kroner Hall; a Science Learning Community in Switlik Hall; a College of Business Administration Learning Community in Gee Hall; the Student Support Services Program for first generation college students in Hill Hall; a Wellness Community in Olson Hall and the all-female residence in Wright Hall. Cindy Threatt, director of residence life, has played an essential role in supporting and enhancing these efforts.

The linked-course learning community concept for BHP freshmen was conceived by Drs. Arlene Wilner, and Anne Salvatore, professors of English. Also teaching in the learning community are Dr. Linda Materna, chairperson of the department of foreign languages and literatures, and professor of Spanish, and Dr. Anne Osborne, professor of history.

Currently, two sections of BHP-100, (Great Ideas I) freshmen are enrolled in a single section of History-150. The instructors have integrated their syllabi to create synergy between thematic units of BHP-100 and the historical approach of History-150. For example, ancient Greek history is taught in the history class, while the Great Ideas sections explore Sophocles' Antigone. Last month, key elements of the pilot program were presented at the annual meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council in St. Louis, MO.

"Our learning community model extends the cross-disciplinary connections already inherent in BHP and advances the University's goal of helping students integrate learning, which is a crucial skill in our rapidly shifting national and world culture," said Wilner. "We know that students benefit but faculty benefit too by stretching beyond their usual boundaries and learning from each other. It is a win-win initiative."

In addition to living in Ziegler Hall, BHP freshmen attend workshops focusing on various class-oriented themes. A September dinner/discussion organized by Dr. Materna focused on the BHP summer reading of Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner," a story of betrayal and redemption set in war-torn Afghanistan. Recently linked-course students watched the film, "Osama," which examines the oppression of Afghan society, especially that of women, under the Taliban. Dr. Osborne provided historical contexts and emphasized connections with class readings.

"Learning communities offer students an integrated college experience," said Threatt. "When administrators and faculty work together to help students make connections between the classroom and other critical elements of student life such as the residence hall experience, students become more connected and engaged with the university at large."

Michael Ciaramella, a geological and marine science major from Stroudsburg, PA, concurs. "Everything has been great," said Ciaramella. "I have already established strong friendships with fellow students who share the same intellectual drive and who are experiencing many of the same things as myself academically. I have also participated in many social activities such as dinner with President Rozanski, the previewing of Rider's production of "Hair" and group discussions both in and out of the classroom.

Five years before the BHP linked-course learning community was developed, Drs. Robbie Sethi, and Judith Johnston, professors of English, and Dr. Molly O'Reilly, professor emerita of English, introduced the first linked-course learning community - University Studies - at Rider.

After attending a talk at Rider by Dr. Vince Tinto, a distinguished university professor at Syracuse University and well-known recruitment and retention expert, Drs. Seth and O'Reilly were impressed with Syracuse's positive outcome. When Dr. O'Reilly retired, Sethi joined forces with Dr. Judith Johnston, professor of English, who with her developed the coordination of English composition courses with history courses -- two CORE curriculum classes. Soon joining them was Dr. Joe Gowaskie, professor of history.

Drs. Brook Hunter, assistant professor of history; Cynthia Lucia, assistant professor of English; and Seiwoong Oh, chairperson of English, have also taught in the University Studies Learning Community. Currently, Drs. Sethi, Gowaskie and Rebecca Basham, assistant professor of English, are teaching Learning Communities sections. In the spring, Dr. Mary Morse, associate professor of English, will teach a section of CMP-125 Research Writing linked with Dr. Gowaskie's World History from 1500.

This semester, the faculty and students have focused on creation and the flood myths, the Greek play, "Lysistrata," and the Chinese "Ballad of Mulan." They will conclude with an examination of the work of Chang-rae Lee, a noted Korean-American novelist. Lee will be the Educational Opportunity Program's (EOP) Distinguished Writers Series guest at Rider on December 9.

All of the undergraduate studies students take their freshmen seminar courses together. While living at Kroner this year, approximately 50 students enrolled in Freshman Seminars have discussed issues such as taking responsibility for their alcohol consumption, exploring career development and developing good study skills. The sessions have been led by Dean of Students Tony Campbell; Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jan Friedman Krupnick; Residence Life Director Cindy Threatt; and Associate Director of Residence Life Stephanie Polak. Tutoring nights are also held and seminar advisers meet once a month for lunch with students at Daly's Dining Hall. Dr. Phyllis Frakt, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Jim Castagnera, associate provost and associate vice president of academic affairs; and Jamie O'Hara, vice president for enrollment management, are among the Rider administrators who have supported various endeavors.

Jamiyl Mosley, a residence life area director who indirectly oversees residence hall programming for the BHP and Freshman Year Experience, works closely with Dr. Lucien Frary, assistant professor of history, who is now in his second year as a faculty in residence in Conover Hall. Activities this semester have included a session on living abroad in London; volleyball tournaments, library tours, and a new program -- Conover Cranberry Cash, which allows students who actively participate in building-sponsored activities to earn points for items at an end-of-the-semester auction.

According to Mosley, the key is to tie activities to students' academic and social interests. "With this type of involvement, faculty might feel more prone to visit the residence halls to interact with students," said Mosley. "Learning can take place in so many different ways. It's not just in the classroom."

Added Materna of the department of foreign languages and literatures: I have been challenged to expand my disciplinary expertise, to learn about what and how my colleagues teach. It's all about working collectively toward the intellectual growth of our students."

Sethi concurs: "There are already several student success stories. The journey has been so much fun. The best part of it is working together with other faculty in order to enhance the college experience for students."