Bearcat Living

What is Bearcat Living? 

The Bearcat Living model intentionally embraces the educational potential of residential living. Binghamton University residents will be able to connect with others, become active members of the community, discover and appreciate differences and act with a sense of personal responsibility. 

The goals of Bearcat Living are to:

• Create an intentional approach to residential living/learning, building upon the skills students are learning.
• Capitalize on the skills and talents of Residential Life staff and campus partners.
• Focus on the primary responsibilities of the area staff to encompass three broad themes.

Themes

The three themes of B-Connected are Community, Growth, and Independence. Each theme has its own set of objectives and outcomes achieved by completing the activities outlined in our facilitation guides.

• Community

  It is Residential Life’s goal to engage with residents to build strong communities within which  students can experience a sense of belonging. Belonging is the feeling that members of a group or  community matter to one another and the group/community (Strayhorn, 2019). This theme  focuses on what we do to support students’ finding their community/ies on campus and what we  want students to learn about being a part of a community and from being part of a community. 

  Outcomes

  • Residents will be able to build relationships within and beyond their residential  community. 
  • Residents will be able to participate in their community by engaging in activities that  demonstrate their commitment to community members.  
  • Residents will be able to recognize their rights and responsibilities as members of a  community. 
• Growth

  Personal growth is a process of ongoing development to improve oneself and to achieve one’s  goals. Personal growth encompasses physical well-being, mental well-being, emotional well being, and academic success. Physical well-being serves as a foundation for all aspects of  personal growth; it includes such things as healthy eating, healthy activity, and healthy sleep  habits. Mental well-being contributes to overall personal growth due to its relationship to one’s  ability to learn and to thrive. Mental well-being encompasses things such as stress management,  coping strategies, and resilience. Emotional well-being is closely related to mental well-being and  encompasses aspects such as self-awareness, healthy relationships, and sense of purpose.  Academic success is the identification, clarification, and achievement of one’s educational goals  and preparation for one’s post-college goals. It includes skill development, content mastery,  motivation, and the ability to apply one’s learning to real-world situations. 

  Outcomes

  • Residents will be able to access campus resources related to their personal growth  (physical, mental, emotional, and academic success) needs 
  • Residents will be able to participate in and demonstrate stress management techniques 
  • Residents will be able to create a plan for participating in healthy behaviors and activities
• Independence

  The independence theme is what is commonly called “adulting”. It refers to the transition from  adolescence to adulthood to take on responsibility for oneself. This theme deals with the skills  and responsibilities that are necessary to navigate adult life. Independence is behaving in a  mature and responsible manner in handling tasks and responsibilities. It includes independent  problem-solving and the use of available resources to support and aid in solving problems.  

  Outcomes

  ● Residents will be able to solve some problems independently 

  ● Residents will be able to match campus resources to their needs 

  ● Residents will be able to perform basic life skills safely 

Bearcat Living Vocabulary 

• Educational Priority
  The department’s overarching objectives for student learning and skill development within the residence halls.
• Learning Goal 
  A more specific statement that articulates what students will learn. Guided by our educational priority and university mission.
• Outcome
  Assessment term describing what a resident should take away from each objective.
• Strategy
  A method that Residential Life staff use to engage residents and achieve learning goals.
• Traditions
  Community-specific activities that area governments or Residential Life professional staff manage.
• Assessment 
  Gathering data to determine whether Bearcat Living is meeting its goals, and using that data to improve Bearcat Living and the residential experience.

Bearcat Living Strategies

• Floor Meeting
  A gathering of the floor/building or community.
• Bearcat Gatherings
  Small informal social activities to connect residents with one another in the community.
• Social Media
  Used for departmental posts.
• Passive Resources
  Educational bulletin boards, bathroom reader, door hangers, resources/programming attendance at other departments, process advertisement, lobby TV, tabling, giveaways, newsletters.
• Community Builders
  Structured social activities planned for a floor of a residence hall, a building or the larger community.