The Oaks Residential Neighborhood targets its goal to infuse Study Abroad/Study USA opportunities into the neighborhood; foster academic engagement around “experiential learning” with special emphasis on preparing for study abroad; and to promote inter-cultural knowledge and competence, including leadership.
The Oaks Residential Neighborhood envisions creating and building community among its residents to enhance student learning and engagement. It provides opportunities for its students to interact with fellow students in experiential learning-related endeavors in a residential community that strives to extend learning beyond the walls of the classroom.
Through planned interactions such as the annual “Oaks Study Abroad Fair” held March 5, 2014, students encounter new ideas and perspectives, reflect on and engage in inquiry associated with life in a global society.
A majority of the Oaks residents who participated in the Winter Term Study Abroad/Study USA courses at Elon University participated in the Oaks Study Abroad Fair by setting up cultural stands depicting their countries/states of study.
Approximately 80-100 Oaks residents attended the fair to see and hear about the many study-away options. There were good conversations at each stand and other seating spaces between sophomores contemplating which country to study in the next year and juniors who had just returned from studying away
The Oaks is currently made up of 58 percent sophomores and 42 percent juniors.
The Oaks Study Abroad Fair is intended to infuse Study Abroad/Study USA opportunities into the neighborhood; foster academic engagement around “experiential learning” with special emphasis on preparing for study abroad; and to promote inter-cultural knowledge and competence, including leadership, diversity and citizenship.
A similarly focused annual activity initiated in the fall was a special meeting “Two Birds, One Stone: Study Abroad and Intern” led by Bill and Emily Burress (Global Education Center) on the possibility of internships during Study Abroad. Twenty-five students attended that session.