College - RFL program offers students a positive environment

If you live in a West Virginia University dorm, you've had a Resident Faculty Leader.

The RFL program started in 1996 as a jumpstart program to get new students accustomed to the University.

Former WVU President David C. Hardesty and former WVU Dean David Stewart created the RFL program to foster a learning environment not just in the classrooms but in the dorms as well – thus creating a family-away-from-home feeling for students.

This is exactly how I felt when I met the RFL at Pierpont Apartments in 2008. RFL Chair Ann Richards and her husband, Brian Knight, have been the RFLs for the past six years. Their home is located on the ground floor of the dorm and is easily accessible with a simple knock on their door.

With their open doors and home-cooked food every Tuesday night, I felt right at home. So much so the first night I met them, I fell asleep on the living room couch. I felt like I was safe and not a burden.

Continuing to interact with them, I had the chance of meeting many faculty members as well as other students in the dorm through Tuesday night "Chat-n-Chew".

"Chat-n-Chew" offers students the ability to get academic advice through different speakers each week and learn about opportunities on and around campus.

With this constant interaction, students warm up to and eventually confide in the RFLs as the doorkeepers of their educational success.

With the guidance of the RFL in Pierpont, I ventured out and participated in dorm activities, Hall Council, Campus Cup and the newly created "Our WVU Communities" program.

This program, created by Associate Provost Elizabeth A. Dooley, is geared toward new and current undergraduate students in search of a network when they arrive on campus.

With the help of the RFL program, students of color and first generation students are motivated to build affinity groups together.

Since the majority of student participation was from Pierpont Apartments as it houses a diverse student population, this was best group to bring ideas to the forefront. The RFLs even brought in Marc Williams, the managing partner of Williams Communications to help with the push for "Our WVU Communities."

Williams, who has a masters degree in sports management, spoke to the University last month.

With their determination and Richards good home-cooked meals, Tuesday night dinners have become more diverse.

Students even come from across the campus and off-campus just to come back to Pierpont to enjoy academic conversation and socializing.

Last year, the RFLs coordinated an "International Social" where students were exposed to foreign cuisines from all over the world.

They knew students would show up because it was on a Tuesday night, but they weren't prepared for the turnout of more than 75 students.

"Our WVU Communities" is now bringing more students together in order to motivate each other and be academically successful.

We have brought ideas to those who can finally help us build programs for us by us. This weekend will be the head start of "Our WVU Communities'" initiative of bringing people together.

"Our WVU Communities" and the RFL program are bringing in Jay Harris, a widely known sports anchor from ESPN.

Harris, who is from Norfolk, Va., and a two-time Emmy Award Winner, will be coming to our glorious University to speak about the importance of education in achieving success.

Without "Our WVU Communities," this would not even be possible. Without the RFL program and the continuous determination of Pierpont students and Marc Williams, we would still be talking about what this University needs.

Finally, doors are opening for students of color and first-generation students. We are starting to support ourselves and push for educational success individually.

So come on out to the Mountainlair Ballrooms Saturday at 7 p.m. to meet Jay Harris and interact with students and faculty members.