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Sharpe Community Scholars Program

Living-Learning Community

A transformational learning community within W&M

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Director of the Sharpe Community Scholars Program Monica Griffin teaching in the Collaboratory.
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An autumn trip to the pumpkin patch!
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Sharpe Scholars in the Living-Learning Community Collaboratory.
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Center for Geospatial Analysis Certificate Director Shannon White provides instruction on GIS mapping tools in the Collaboratory.
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Sharpe Scholars gain hands-on experience with GIS tools.
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The Sharpe Collaboratory is used for both academic and co-curricular learning opportunities...as well as photo opportunities.

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.
LLC Best-Practices Model