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| Thirty-two freshmen will join the new themed learning community, Engineering Grand Challenges, and will live in Weaver Towers. |
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| Twenty-two freshmen will join the new themed learning community, Nucleus Scholars, and will live in Aspen Hall. |
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| Mines currently offers these six themed learning communities. |
GOLDEN, Colo., June 8, 2015 – The Colorado School of Mines class of 2019 has the option of joining new themed learning communities (TLCs) this fall.
On Aug. 18, one week before classes officially begin, 32 freshmen will join the Engineering Grand Challenges learning community and live in Weaver Towers.
The idea for the new student community came from chemical and biochemical engineering student Corey Brugh when he began brainstorming a living experience that would encourage students to be more innovative.
“This community gives student the unique opportunity to explore social justice and engineering in a creative way that inspires future engineers to use their expertise to help others,” said Brugh.
Modeled after other Grand Challenges Scholars Programs at universities across the country, freshmen will learn skills necessary to address key grand challenges facing society:
- Make solar energy economical
- Provide energy from fusion
- Develop carbon sequestration methods
- Manage the nitrogen cycle
- Provide access to clean water
- Restore and improve urban infrastructure
- Advance health informatics
- Engineer better medicines
- Reverse-engineer the brain
- Prevent nuclear terror
- Secure cyberspace
- Enhance virtual reality
- Advance personalized learning
- Engineer the tools of scientific discovery
Brugh worked with Mark Mondry, teaching associate professor in the Division of Economics and Business, and Mary Elliott, associate director for Residence Life, to prepare hands-on programming that will challenge students to explore how engineering can solve some of the world’s problems.
“The community will be divided into teams to research and work on one of the ‘Grand Challenges of Engineering’ such as making solar energy economical or how to get everyone in the world access to clean water,” Elliott said.
Also this fall, 22 freshmen who may share a common identity as the first person in their families to attend college will join Mines as Nucleus Scholars and live in Aspen Hall.
“This community will offer support and mentoring as well as monthly programming aimed at helping students grow as individuals and become leaders on campus,” said Elliott. Some faculty and staff mentors include Division of Liberal Arts and International Studies Associate Professor Jon Leydens and Director of the Multicultural Engineering Program Andrea Salazar Morgan.
Mines currently offers the following TLCs to incoming students:
- Adventure Leadership
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Oredigger Leadership
- Athleticism and Wellness Community
- Engineering Grand Challenges
- Nucleus Scholars
In order to be selected, first-year students have to submit a short essay as part of the housing application that demonstrates their interest in the community and will be notified of their application in early June.
The communities are designed around a variety of educational, cultural, organizational and personal interests. According to the Department of Residence Life, the average GPA of students living in TLCs is 3.2 and the retention rate is 98%.
Contact:
Kathleen Morton, Communications Coordinator / 303-273-3088 / KMorton@mines.edu
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations / 303-273-3541 / KGilbert@mines.edu