• Arts & Sciences
• Sharpe Community Scholars Program
• Living-Learning Community

Living-Learning Community

A tight-knit community within William & Mary

In addition to the academic course work, there are several immediate, practical advantages to becoming a Sharpe Scholar. "Sharpies" live together in Spotswood Hall - a residence hall specifically for Sharpe and other Scholars. Students are able to interact and form bonds with their peers in Sharpe through the many academic and co-curricular experiences, mentor groups, seminars, community engagement projects, and social events. All Sharpe Scholars have at least one thing in common: they are interested in community-engaged research. The frequent interactions and common interest help form a close community and ease the transition from high school to William & Mary.

Our Living-Learning Community has the following goals:

1. Deepening students’ social integration into the university and peer interactions related to academics outside the classroom.
2. Increasing meaningful connections to co-curricular opportunities that will enhance their academic and community engagement.
3. Building students’ skills for collaborating effectively, ethically, and responsively with others in community work.
4. Increasing students’ capacity to describe academic relevance for engaging communities intellectually, in action and research.
5. Fostering transformational, collaborative learning among students from a variety of backgrounds and identities. 

There are plenty of benefits to living in a Living-Learning Community:

The Sharpe Collaboratory A special room in Spotswood reserved for the Sharpe scholars which allows for most academic and co-curricular experiences to take place where Sharpies live! The room is equipped with resources for students to use throughout the day such as a large whiteboard, projector, lapdesks, creative art supplies, discussion cards, flip charts and reference resources. This is also where most weekly study hours take place as well as many of our social activities and events

An assigned Sharpe Fellow and mentor group Fellows are always available to answer academic questions and help you navigate your first year in the program. Mentor groups meet throughout the year and participate in activities together such as going to see visiting speakers, attending sports events, nature walks, dinner dialogues, and much more.

Popcorn with Professors Almost every week, we have a faculty member come to the residence hall for an intimate discussion about their research, their department and their experiences in academia. Students are able to get access to faculty they may not take courses with and ask them questions about research and/or academic advice.

Community engagement as a community Sharpies will participate in multiple community service projects as an entire cohort or with their mentor group.