Emmanuel College

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First Year Residential Experience

The First Year Residential Experience

Leaving home, adjusting to all that Boston has to offer, making new friends, and learning how to study for college classes are just a few examples of the challenges that face first-year students at Emmanuel College.

The First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program is designed to build community among the first-year students and assist in their transition to college life. The FYRE program takes place in Loretto and St. Ann Halls.

Benefits of the program include:
  • High staff-to-student ratios
  • Late night weekend programs
  • Opportunities to interact with faculty and staff
  • Social events
  • Sporting competitions

Your Resident Assistants

During your first year you will be introduced to your Resident Assistants (RAs). RAs are Emmanuel students who have applied for this leadership position to assist you while living on campus. There are two RAs on most floors in the residence halls. They share the responsibilities on the floor, and together with the other RAs, the RD, and you, they build the community we call a residence hall.

The RAs in the FYRE program reach out to their residents in a variety of ways. These include:

Call Outs

Prior to Move-In Weekend, RAs call their residents at home to introduce themselves and answer any final questions the student has about what to expect during Welcome Week.

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Building-Wide Programming

These programs are offered throughout the first six weeks of the semester that focus on the following topics: Welcome, Building Community, Involvement, Academics, Health and Wellness, and Diversity.

Traditional Programs may include:

  • Attending the Colleges of the Fenway Block Party
  • Loretto vs. St. Ann Dodgeball Tournament
  • Loretto vs. St. Ann Kickball Tournament
  • Tower of Toppings Ice Cream Party
  • "Build Your Own Smores" with Campus Clubs and Organizations
  • Choose Your Major Nachos
  • So you think you know what the gym has to offer?
  • RAD Classes with Campus Security
  • Diversity Cards and Cupcakes
  • The Franklin Park Zoo comes to Loretto
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Faculty Interaction

RAs host programs where faculty members come in to discuss a variety of pertinent topics with the residents.

Past programs have included:

  • The Road to the Red Sox World Series
  • New Students, New Semester, New Orleans - a discussion of what it was like to be a college student in New Orleans during Katrina and what we can do now to help
  • "Sex and the City" - What makes a good relationship?
  • Personality Styles - Why don't my roommate and I get along?
  • Holiday Cards for Children's Hospital
  • You too can study abroad!
  • Stress Relief
  • Behind the Scenes tour of the Museum of Fine Arts
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Caring Conversations/Fireside Chats

During the month of October the RAs and each resident schedule a 10-20 minute individual meeting where they can discuss how life at Emmanuel has progressed so far. Usual topics of conversation cover success in classes, roommate relationships, jobs on campus, clubs that students can join, and many other interesting pieces of information.

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Student of the Week

Each week the main bulletin board in the lobby is dedicated to a resident of the hall who has positively impacted the community. The RAs nominate students based on their interactions and comments from other residents. The student of the week is highlighted on the bulletin board with a photo and fun facts which they would like to share with the building. This activity is always a hall favorite!

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Newsletters

A monthly newsletter, the Potty Press, is posted in the bathroom stalls that highlight important information for the students. These generally include health or safety tips, notes on holiday closings, fun activities throughout campus and Boston, and any other topic of which the residents want to be informed.

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