Founded in 1988, University Residential Student Community serves all students who live in University housing by providing them with ways to enhance and contribute to their residential experience at the University of Southern California. URSC, acting as a liaison between students, faculty and administrators, expresses a unified voice to build community, empower residents and create opportunities for academic excellence and leadership development. Made up of five boards: Executive, Advocacy, Building Government Chairs, Funding and Programming, URSC strives to act as a resource by coordinating and promoting all phases of student development and self-government, while representing the residential community on both regional and national levels.
For more information on URSC, visit their website.
Building government helps define the structure for each unique community area, and helps to empower residents to make an impact on their own community. It provides residents with a sense of belonging while simultaneously encouraging residents to practice citizenship. Involvement in building government can help residents build a social network and may introduce them to other student leader positions, such as the RA position, Undergraduate Senate or GPSS. Above all, building government provides an opportunity to establish a fun and rewarding experience for residents.
The main purpose of building government is to improve the residential experience through programming social, academic and cultural events such as game nights, resume workshops and museum trips; advocating for funding for residents; promoting and organizing philanthropic events; participating in URSC events and coordinating resident participation in intramurals.
Some events coordinated by building government include Spirits at Troy, a philanthropy event at Parkside that is held for local children; Save Tommy Nite, a carnival on Trousdale Parkway with free food and entertainment and Final Fling, an event in McCarthy quad at the end of the spring semester which features music, water slides and booths with activities.
Almost all of the programs and involvements of the Office for Residential Education are oriented to students who reside in University Housing, but an academic course about peer counseling is a clear exception. This course developed by the Rossier School of Education and taught by Residential Education staff and others is open to all undergraduate students. Graduate students have the option to take a non-credit seminar to be exposed to similar curriculum.
What is the attraction to taking EDCO 030, “Introduction to Paraprofessional Counseling” or the graduate seminar? The major learning outcome identified by students, is their tremendous growth in their understanding of self and others. This includes studying the developmental experience and adjustments issues of college students. An important part of this is the enhancement of communication skills, which is helpful in any setting and the practice of basic counseling techniques that deepen listening skills and helping responses that has applications to all relationships.
Clearly the most popular portion of the course is the weekend retreat experience. During this time, students explore various facets of identity and learn to more deeply understand and appreciate differences in an open and deeply supportive environment. Some students incorrectly believe that the purpose of the retreat is to enhance the sense of class community. However, this is the natural outcome of the time spent together getting beyond the normal safe conversations of college life and truly working towards an environment of inclusion and unconditional support. In that atmosphere, life-changing learning is truly the core outcome. The cost of the retreat is charged as a lab fee in the class.
Undergraduates: To enroll for this course, check the Class Schedule for EDCO 030 offered fall and spring terms. If you are an entering freshmen without previous college experience, it is strongly encouraged not to take the course in the fall of your first year.
Graduates, for more information contact edco@usc.edu.
