Design-Your-Own Explorations Community

The student-designed Explorations community option is available to students who wish to convene a specialized community in exploration of a unique theme. If you know of other NYU students who share a common interest that can be explored through high-quality, educational programming, Explorations may greatly enhance your residential and collegiate experience! The Department of Residential Education greatly believes in the connection between in and out-of-the classroom learning and the Explorations communities are an excellent way of fusing both approaches to education.

To apply, please click here. We strongly encourage you to continue reading this how-to guide to help you fill out the application and understand the application and placement process.

• An information session will be held in your residence hall to help students write a successful application. We encourage you to attend an information session to see what we look for when reading Designing your own Explorations Community applications!

Information Sessions will also be in your residence hall--look for advertised times in your hall!

Themes created by students for the 2008 - 2009 academic year include:

-NYU Show 2: Characters Welcome
-Pre-Professional Leadership
-Shakespeare 1564-2007
-Sports in the City: Past, Present and the Future
-Starving Artists

To read about all of our themes, please click here.

The goals of the students designed Explorations communities are identical to all of our Explorations communities:

• Develop unique communities within the residence halls that allow students to connect to each other, the University, and the City through discovery of a specific theme.
• Create connections between classroom learning and life outside the classroom through participation in programs and activities related to the theme of the community.
• Consider New York City through the lens of a specific theme.
• Establish mentoring relationships with members of faculty who have interest or expertise in the theme of interest.

Application Process

• Each group submitting a student designed community must identify a student coordinator who commits to the community for the 2009-2010 academic year and will serve as the administrative liaison during the application process and the programming liaison during the school year.
• The student coordinator will complete the online application. The application requires the following information: Community title, Community description (a brief paragraph to be used for marketing to potential students), Community goals/rationale, and possible activities and programs.

• The name, net ID, and NYU ID number (N# located on the back of the NYU ID) must be provided for each student who wishes to participate in the community.
• The students must identify a faculty member who will serve as the faculty affiliate for the floor. The faculty affiliate should be made aware of the expectations of the position, which are detailed in the faculty affiliate position description. Department of Residential Education staff members will confirm the faculty member's intent to participate prior to endorsing the community.
• Housing assignments will be made, in coordination with the Housing Office, in residence halls that best meet the needs of the student population and exploration of theme. Students will be made aware of the housing assignment prior to accepting the community placement. NOTE: STUDENTS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO COMPLETE HOUSING RE-APPLICATION PAPERWORK.
• Communities must consist of at least 15 students (following the orientation meeting). If the community does not include 15 students, the theme will be offered during the general Explorations application process, and additional students will be able to apply to the community.