Faculty/Administrator in Residence Program Generates Student Success Through Connections
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s faculty/administrator in residence program is opening pathways for student success through mentorship and student/faculty collaboration.
The FIR/AIR program offers faculty and administrators the unique opportunity to reside in campus housing units and interact with students outside of the classroom, which has been attributed to student personal development, enhanced interpersonal skills, intellectual orientation, and growth in autonomy and independence.
Island University Offers Faculty in Residence Program
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s faculty/administrator in residence program offers faculty and administrators the unique opportunity to reside in campus housing units and interact with students outside of the classroom, which has been attributed to student personal development, enhanced interpersonal skills, intellectual orientation, and growth in autonomy and independence.
Faculty in Residence ProgramProfessor Rosa Lazaro and Dr. Clarenda Phillips say their experience living among students has shown them that where there is support, there is success.
“Through this program, we’re not just impacting the students in our own major – we’re able to cross that line and mentor students across the board that we may not encounter every day,” Lazaro, TAMU-CC Professor of Theatre, said. “For many of these students, this is their first time living outside their parents’ home. The key, I have found, is just listening to them, and helping them be successful. That’s why we became professors and educators in the first place, to help students be successful through this process.”
Jesus Wong ’22, marine biology major, says since he was a child, he dreamed of attending a school where he could fulfill his dream of becoming a marine biologist. Attending the Island University, with its strong reputation for oceanic research, Wong says the opportunity to live alongside university change-makers like Lazaro and Phillips reassured him that living on-campus was the right choice.
“Being here, I am able to be more involved in campus and I communicate better with my professors,” Wong said. “Our faculty is here to do more for us than just give us grades and assignments. They’re here to understand us too.”
Lazaro lived in campus housing during the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and when a strong winter freeze disrupted campus operations.
“So many of these students living on campus are first-generation college students, so having someone to just listen to them is so impactful,” Lazaro said. “Years ago, I also lived on campus and was first-generation student from a lower income family. No one should have to go through that stress alone, that’s why I felt like being in this program was so great.”
Phillips, TAMU-CC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, lived in campus housing during fall 2020. Reflecting on her own experience, she says her time with students allowed her to see how student life has changed, and where help is needed.
“Students today have different patterns of help-seeking behavior, and students are more able to succeed when we bring services, support, and resources to them,” Phillips said. “Islanders today are coming to us with a variety of experiences. To be able to be right here in their space and to provide the help they need to navigate their college journey to success – that’s always my goal.”
The FIR/AIR program also includes office hours for student support, in-resident presentations from different campus units, and social events.
The application period for 2022-2023 FIR/AIR program opens September 1, 2021, with a deadline of Oct. 1, 2021. Faculty, click here to learn more. Administrators, click here to learn more.
Students can learn more about living on campus at https://www.tamucc.edu/housing/
