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

Living-Learning Community

A transformational learning community within W&M

All Sharpe Scholars have at least one thing in common: they are interested in community engagement and research. Since “Sharpies” live together (in Spotswood Hall) and share classes in the program, their frequent interactions in mentor groups, seminars, community engagement projects, and social events fulfill 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:

Sharpe Scholars Program Information

The Sharpe Collaboratory Spotswood has a classroom (The Collaboratory) reserved for the Sharpe scholars, where we host both academic and  co-curricular experiences to take place where Sharpies live! The room is also equipped with resources for students to use throughout the day with resources for small-group presentations, study sessions, and meetings. Students are encouraged to use the space to study, gather informally, meet with peer mentors, or just relax!

An assigned Sharpe Fellow and mentor group Fellows are regularly 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 Faculty are invited to come to the residence hall for an intimate discussion about their research, their department and their experiences in academia. In this setting students are able to access faculty they may not take courses with and ask them questions about community-based research and/or academic advice generally.

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