Foster-Martin to become Living-Learning Community

Starting next year, global and international studies will not just be confined to the classroom. Beginning fall semester, the Global Village Living-Learning Center will join Collins and Foster International in combining classroom learning with community living.\nThe Global Village LLC will be housed in Foster-Martin as a co-ed residence for about 150 students. The village will be focused on international matters and will collaborate with the College of Arts and Sciences to provide special classes for residents. Students who are accepted to the program will be ones with a strong interest in any global issue, including international politics and economics, cultures, foreign languages or global environmental concerns.\nTelecommunications Professor Herb Terry will be the director for the village. He said this endeavor has been in motion for several years, as IU has a tradition of being a multicultural and internationally-minded institution with an excellent foreign language program.\n"We might be in the middle of the Midwest, but IU is one of the most international universities in the country," said Terry.\nTerry said recent events have brought increased interest from students and faculty to learn more about international issues. The creation of an international studies major grew out of this demand. An advisory meeting two years ago started the planning stages of what would become the Global Village.\nNancy Lorenz, director of academic initiatives and services in Residential Programs and Services, said the Global Village is considered to be a learning community and will be a thematic community modeled after Collins LLC, which has been very successful over the years in creating a community that is both academic and social.\n"Students in learning communities are more likely to report that they are satisfied with their living arrangements because they are surrounded by students with shared interests," Lorenz said.\nLLCs like Collins and Foster International are not the only residences that collaborate with schools in the University. Other partnerships include the Briscoe Wellness Center with the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Honors Residence Community with the Honors College. \nCatherine Larson, associate dean of undergraduate education for COAS, said it is this collaboration that will make the Global Village an integrated learning experience. \n"Students in the village will be able to take classes in the community," Larson said. "Not only is this convenient for the students, but it is a chance to bring the faculty and associate instructors to the students."\nSome of the classes available in the Village next fall include topics classes in international studies, a special class for students planning to study abroad, a community development course and introductory courses in math, biology and foreign languages.\nTerry said some physical changes will occur at Foster-Martin during the summer in order to meet the needs of the village. These changes include the building of one classroom, the renovation of an existing classroom, a new language and computer lab and a wall in order to accommodate the new co-ed status of the floors. The main lounge will also be changed to accommodate meetings, dinners, speakers and other events. \n"The village won't just be a place to study and eat," Terry said. "Students will be able to learn from each other."\nTo apply to live in the Global Village LLC or for more information, visit www.indiana.edu/~college/global.\n-- Contact staff writer Jorie Slodki at jslodki@indiana.edu.