A look at Augustana's faculty-in-residence program

This article was originally published on the Quad-City Times.

Launched in fall 2016, Augustana College's faculty-in-residence program gives professors the opportunity to live on campus and offer greater student support. Faculty can apply to live on campus for up to three years through the program.

This year, three faculty members are in the program:

• Anne Heide, visiting assistant professor of art, living in Erickson Hall.
• Çağlar Çetin-Ayşe, visiting assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, living in a designated faculty house near Erickson Hall with his wife and two kids.
• Michelle Crouch, adjunct assistant professor of music (voice), now in her fourth year as a faculty in residence, living in Swanson Commons.

"It's unique to have three at a school our size," said Chris Beyer, Augustana's director of residential life.

Faculty in residence regularly partner with the college's Augustana Leaders in Vocational Exploration (ALIVE) fellowship, a residential stipend program where sophomores engage in weekly discussions with faculty about vocational calling, mental and spiritual well-being, community engagement and other reflective topics.

Faculty in residence also adopt community-support roles in their residence halls, like hosting meals and providing hands-on activities for students. They aren't responsible for duties like student management and disciplinary reporting.

This year's participants are already seeing a positive impact on the students. As a visiting professor from Turkey, Çetin-Ayşe said his presence may be extra meaningful for international students.

"I was an international student once," he said. "You know, representation matters. I am happy with this role."

"I'm realizing students are really hungry for community and connection," said Heide. "That's kind of an amazing thing to be a part of."

→ Read the full article at the Quad-City Times