University Scholars Village
Now in its third decade, the University Scholars Program promotes the intellectual engagement, personal growth and leadership development of its students and provides them with an enriched undergraduate experience through a range of carefully designed out-of-class experiences. The Scholars Village, a collaborative effort between the University Scholars Program and University Housing, is one of the most important components of the University Scholars Program. Life in the Village centers around a wide range of social, cultural and educational activities, all designed to help University Scholars to become informed citizens, ethical leaders and active contributors to our campus and community.
Life in the Scholars Village
Beginning in Fall 2009, the Scholars Village will be located on Floors 2-4 of Sullivan
Residence Hall and will be limited to first year University Scholars. Every village resident will participate in a Village
In Action (VIA) group and will be given a room assignment in proximity with the other members of their VIA group. Through
the VIA program, village residents will take part in a series of specially-planned events that will allow them to interact
closely with their peers, an upper class Scholars Village Assistant (SVA), and a professional staff member. Examples of past
VIA activities include international dinners, theatrical performances, sailing trips on Lake Wheeler, and discussions of contemporary
issues. Additionally, the SVAs and Resident Advisors (RAs) for the Village will collaborate on programming that complements
the University Scholars Program and helps create a cohesive community of learners.
The Scholars Village provides a home for University Scholars from all of NC State’s colleges. A large majority of our
first-year students choose to live in the Village, and find it beneficial because:
- Students are part of a smaller community that promotes academic excellence and reflects a diversity of academic interests and viewpoints.
- Scholars Village Assistants live in the Village and organize a variety of educational and community-building events, from Cookie Nights to student-led discussions on topics such as Intervention in Africa and the Decline of Medical Discovery.
- The USP Office is located in Sullivan Hall, and USP professional staff are available to assist students and help them make the transition to college life.
- Sullivan Hall houses a state of the art computer lab, a multimedia classroom, and is located near Fountain Dining Hall.
- The USP Office provides free copies of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Raleigh News & Observer to students in the Village;
- The Scholars Council organizes a wide range of social and service activities for Village residents, including a Halloween Carnival, an annual USP Semiformal dance, volunteer opportunities with Service Raleigh and Relay for Life, and the End-of-the-Year Games & Picnic.
Academic Experience
The University Scholars Program (USP) provides personal, professional and leadership development for academically talented students. The USP enriches the undergraduate experience through a series of carefully designed experiences that introduce students to the visual and performing arts, encourage them to consider contemporary issues drawn from the sciences and politics, offer them opportunities to connect their academic and career goals, and challenge them to be leaders and active contributors to our society. Students enroll in the Scholars Forum (HSS 110/111), a 0 credit hour course, for three semesters. The course features lectures, performances and presentations by accomplished speakers and performers. Scholars also have access to a wide range of honors courses which feature small class size, excellent students and instruction by distinguished faculty.
"I thoroughly enjoyed all of the opportunities the USP has given me in the classroom, the community,
and with other Scholars… Activities
with the USP always brought me closer to those around me and provided new perspectives on important issues in the world."
-Anna Edens, Biological Sciences
Village in Action (VIA) Program
All Scholars Village residents will be assigned to a Village in Action (VIA) group. Each VIA group will consist of a small group of residents, a Scholars Village Assistant, and a professional USP or Housing staff member. VIA groups attend six specially-planned Scholars Forum events together over the course of the semester. This allows students to get to know a small group of students and staff members through a series of shared experiences, creating a smaller community within the Village. All students who apply to live in the Scholars Village and are assigned there are required to participate in the VIA program. To apply to live in the Village, students must first be admitted to join the University Scholars Program. To learn more about participating in the University Scholars Program, visit the USP website.
Contact Information
Ms. Allison Medlin
Assistant Director
University Scholars Program
Phone: 919-513-3491
