UBC’s first collegium in the new Ponderosa Commons, will serve as a home base for students who commute to campus.
The collegium features a lounge area with a fireplace and big screen television, a cozy library with books, games and a big couch, a quiet study area, and a full kitchen including two fridges for students to store their lunch. There are floor-to-ceiling windows and a beautiful wood feature resembling a wave hanging from the ceiling.
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“Commuter students face different challenges than other students. Part of making an effective transition to university is feeling like you belong,” says Kim Kiloh, director of the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers.
The collegium is designed to be a relaxing space where students can spend time and socialize in between classes or after school. It is open to 250 first-year students and there is a growing membership list. According to Woo Kim, who is working on programming for the collegium, a lot of students say they are joining to make friends.
The collegium will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and staffed by students who act as Collegia Community Assistants, building community within the members and connecting them to resources and services on campus. The collegium staff has a desk at the entrance but you’re more likely to find them hanging out with the students, starting card games or baking cookies.
If all goes well, the program could expand so that all first-year students who don’t live at UBC have the chance to belong.
For more info: http://students.ubc.ca/campus/collegia