Construction workers are finishing the interior walls at UC Davis’ newest student apartment complex. Now a campus committee is looking for faculty proposals to build the academic structure for residential learning communities at The Colleges at La Rue.
The 450-bedroom complex on La Rue Avenue, scheduled to open by next fall, will have room to house more than 600 students in five thematic "pods."
The Davis Honors Challenge program, which has a living-learning community for freshmen at Regan Hall, plans to pilot a small residential learning program for continuing students at The Colleges beginning next September.
Other residential learning communities would begin in fall 2001.
The LaRue Residential College Committee headed by Patricia Turner, vice provost for undergraduate studies, is seeking one- to three-page faculty proposals for interdisciplinary themes and possible activities for units with up to 150 students.
Themes that have been suggested–but for which no formal proposals have been made–include environmental studies, global village, foreign languages, future educators and public service.
Proposals should be submitted by Wednesday, May 31, to the LaRue Residential College Committee, care of Turner.
An estimated budget is not required at this stage.
The Colleges at LaRue, in addition to one- to four-bedroom apartments, will have a 4,000 square-foot classroom, study areas and a common green. All rooms will be wired for computer use.
An apartment may be set aside for short-term visiting scholars or graduate student-resident assistants who contribute to the learning communities.
The $18 million apartment complex is being built by Pyramid Construction of Davis on university property north of Recreation Pool.
With construction about two-thirds the way completed, more than half the apartments have already been rented, according to Jerry O’Hearn, project manager in the campus Architects and Engineers Office.
"It has location, location, location written all over it," O’Hearn said.
UC Davis has a number of theme communities in its residence halls, but those are open primarily to freshmen and some students transferring from other colleges and universities. Theme communities, in addition to Honors Challenge, include integrated studies; international relations; science; health science; a "Quiet Zone;" wellness and substance-free; Chicano/Latino; Asian/Pacific islander; multi-ethnic; and music, arts and crafts.