The Housing and Residential Education department (HRE) announced Friday the creation of the “GlobalRes” program, a new international living community for second-year students. The program will begin in the 2013-2014 academic year, and 30 sophomore students can participate.
According to Khouri Markos, resident director of Nagel Hall, GlobalRes is a community for students who are interested in developing and enhancing their worldview and believe in the value of an international mindset.
The GlobalRes community is designed for students who are curious about the world around them and interested in building intercultural relationships with their peers.
“HRE has identified the need to create better support systems and enhance the on-campus residential experience,” said Markos. “HRE sees a real opportunity to encourage learning outside of the classroom and feels the residence halls are an excellent place to bring students together and better address the topics that arise when helping students navigate intercultural relationships.”
As such, Markos said that the focus of GlobalRes will include intercultural relationships between international and domestic students from all levels of awareness and understanding who have a genuine interest in engaging with people from all around the globe.
“HRE feels there’s room for increased intercultural understanding from everyone on-campus and wants students to see the benefits of living with a roommate or getting to know someone who may bring different perspectives, values or beliefs to the conversation,” said Markos.
Markos said that GlobalRes is going to focus on 30 second-year students in its first year, selected by HRE in response to four essay questions about why they are interested in GlobalRes.
The community will be located on the Nagel’s third floor, where there is a large community space and will be run by HRE and the Nagel residence director.
“GlobalRes will cater to the needs of the students in the community and will promote activities such as international film nights, excursions to cultural festivals, language learning, I-House events, roundtable discussions and other internationally themed conversations and projects,” said Markos.
In addition, GlobalRes students will be able to move into Nagel Hall early, will be able to stay over winter break and will have educational and social activities planned on a weekly basis, including a day-long retreat early on in the school year to help students get to know each other.
“I think the benefits will extend far beyond these perks,” said Markos. “I’m excited to see students apply who are looking for a new experience at DU and who want to think outside of themselves and develop deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.”
According to Markos, students participating in GlobalRes will also have access to a cultural mentor, who will be a fourth-year DU student with a variety of international experiences. They will be responsible for helping integrate the different perspectives of the community, as well as plan activities that will give students new perspectives. The cultural mentor, who has not yet been selected, will be appointed by HRE staff and potential candidates include former Resident Assistants or Resident Directors.
While GlobalRes is not directly linked to DU’s Living and Learning Communities (LLCs), which does already offer an international community, Markos said that the HRE is hoping to partner with LLCs on programs throughout the year.
Markos said that the “exploratory, interactive and dynamic” program is a response to a campus that continues to diversify.
The deadline for GlobalRes was this past Friday, March 29, but interested students can still e-mail Khouri.markos@du.edu to see if there is space available.
