STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
EXPERIENCE GU
www.gonzaga.edu/student-development THE PROGRAM
OUR MOTTO: LEARNING LIVED
The Division of Student Development is proud to offer numerous opportunities to Gonzaga students outside of the classroom. Students need to develop their mind, body, and spirit as they are engaging in their academic pursuits. We endeavor to help students develop through the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, which translates from the Latin as the “care and concern for the dignity of the whole person.” A complete Gonzaga education may include a variety of vibrant experiences: times of prayer and reflection during a University Ministry retreat, the memorable performance of a theatre production, great conversations with a roommate, the rewards of giving back to a community through service, and the thrill of a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Being a student at Gonzaga is more than classroom learning and professional training – it’s an EXPERIENCE! We expect that all students engage in applying what is being learned in class with community experiences like service, student government, clubs, retreats, and campus events. The Division of Student Development partners with the entire campus community to champion the holistic learning of the Jesuit tradition embodied here at Gonzaga—an education of mind, body, and spirit.
ON-CAMPUS LIVING Gonzaga requires students to both live and dine on campus for their first two years of college, unless they are 21 or older, married, or living at home with immediate family over the age of 21. This means most freshmen and sophomores (well above 90 percent) live on campus. There is a rich variety of facilities: 40-person “house style” residence halls, mid-sized (150 residents) residence halls, and large (350+ residents) residence halls. Gonzaga offers a variety of suite-style, corridor-style, and apartment-style residence facilities, including some intentional living-and-learning communities with faculty and staff advisors. For those wishing to live in University housing for more than two years, GU offers a variety of on- and off-campus apartments, plus some houses owned by the University. Due to limited space, however,
Gonzaga does not guarantee on-campus housing to juniors and seniors One of the many aspects that students love about being at Gonzaga is the strong feeling of community. The Housing and Residence Life Department has created a Community Development Model that we feel supports this notion and enhances the work that students are doing inside the classroom. Our Community Development Model is rooted in the University’s Jesuit identity and supported by the theory and best practices of college residence life professionals nationally. Our Community Development Model is built around four pillars: • Connection: finding a sense of place • Interaction: having intentional conversations with diverse individuals • Engagement: actively participating and investing in a caring community • Reflection: making meaning of on-campus experiences
Students who live in University housing – regardless of class standing, building location, or type of residence – will find these pillars evident in their hall environment, community events, and relationships with each other and the residence life staff.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT The mission of the Gonzaga’s Student Body Association (GSBA) is “to support and advocate for our fellow students, while providing the opportunity for experiences which inspire Zags to live extraordinary lives as men and women for others.” Getting involved as a campus senator or committee member is one way to connect with GSBA. Or simply take advantage of the numerous programs, events, speakers, or concerts put on by GSBA and the Gonzaga Activities Board (GAB). Every week, the Crosby Student Center is home to Coffee House. Coffee Houses often feature live musical performances by Gonzaga bands and student ensembles. The music spans many genres, and the performances are always free. Slam poets, comedians, and film screenings are also scheduled for Coffee House during the year. Sometimes special guests grace the Coffee House stage, and Coffee House holds open-mic nights as well. By inviting engaging guest speakers to campus and chartering diverse clubs and organizations, GSBA often leads the student body in tackling current issues that matter to students. GSBA also has a voice in the overall operation of the University. You can find out more about GSBA at gogsba.org.
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
UNIVERSITY MINISTRY
Filled with student editorials and campus news, The Gonzaga Bulletin, GU’s award-winning weekly student newspaper, provides students a chance to research and report on campus, community, national, and global issues. Gonzaga also has a variety of student publications that are published regularly throughout the year:
GU’s University Ministry department offers a variety of resources to help students develop in faith. Retreats, small groups, worship and liturgy, Bible study programs, faith and justice initiatives, one-on-one mentoring, and other ministries attract hundreds of participants each year. Open to people of all faiths, these events and offerings allow students to ask big and meaningful questions, nurture relationships, reflect on their lives, share thoughts and beliefs, and build community in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
• One World - a social justice themed journal • Charter - a journal of scholarship and opinion focused on a specific theme each semester • Our Voices - a journal of diversity that focuses on Gonzaga’s cultural climate • Reflection - a journal of art and literature • GU Bulldog Blog - Gonzaga’s student blog for entertainment, interviews, and everything else • Spires - Gonzaga’s student yearbook Students do not need to major in journalism or English to get involved with these publications, and interested students can participate as early as their freshman year. As long as students are willing to learn, Gonzaga gives them the opportunity to unleash their creativity in print or web publications.
ATHLETICS Many Gonzaga students participated in organized sports in high school. While not everyone is able to compete as a Zag at the NCAA Division I level, intramurals and recreational sports are a great way for students to meet new friends, try different activities, and simply have fun. Over 60 percent of Gonzaga students play intramural sports (such as basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and volleyball). GU also sponsors over 20 intercollegiate sports clubs to suit just about any athletic interest— dance, ultimate frisbee, skiing, lacrosse, and many more. All athletes, from rookies to veterans, are encouraged to participate. At the Division I level, Gonzaga University fields highly competitive teams in basketball, crew, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball (women only), and baseball (men only). All the teams are members of the West Coast Conference, except for Men’s and Women’s Rowing, which compete in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association. Those who wish to try out for these teams should contact the individual coaches. Admission to all home games and competitions is free for student spectators.
University Ministry retreats take place regularly each academic year throughout Spokane and northern Idaho. For example, the Freshmen Retreat runs five times a year at Silver Lake Camp in Medical Lake, Washington. The Montserrat Retreat occurs four times a year at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in south Spokane. The annual Pilgrimage, a scenic 11-mile hike, concludes at the historic Old Mission in Cataldo, Idaho. The Cardoner Retreat is hosted multiple times each year in Wallace, Idaho. And the Search retreat, Gonzaga’s longest-running retreat program, takes place four times a year at the Bozarth Mansion and Retreat Center, an historic estate in north Spokane, which is owned by the University. Other ministries occur on or near campus. University Ministry’s largest ongoing initiative, the Christian Life Communities (CLC) program, is an Ignatian small groups program with a long history at Jesuit universities. Student Masses take place regularly in the University Chapel (on the 3rd floor of College Hall). THIRST is a weekly praise and worship group that meets in the Globe Room of Cataldo Hall. Two other student groups, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Life, also meet frequently on campus. Whether students are looking to meet new people, share meaningful conversation, learn more about Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer, go deeper into Scripture, experience authentic community worship, discover their vocation, take time out from busy campus life, or simply relax, University Ministry can help provide that unique experience. Stop by the office in Crosby or visit gonzaga.edu/umin or facebook.com/gonzagaumin to find out more about University Ministry at Gonzaga!
SERVICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Gonzaga’s Jesuit tradition is embodied in its commitment to community service. The Center for Community Action and Service Learning (CCASL) responds to the economic, social, and spiritual needs of the Spokane community by matching student volunteers with local agencies and
institutions in need of assistance. CCASL invites students to make a positive impact on society and embrace the real-life lessons that only service-learning can teach. Some Spokane groups currently served by CCASL include Habitat for Humanity, Holy Family Hospital, the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Spokane AIDS Network, Spokane Parks and Recreation, Women’s Drop-In Center, and many more. Volunteers perform duties varying from carpentry to mentoring young people.. In its office’s own backyard, CCASL maintains the Ruellen-Day Community Garden. With its convenient location on the Gonzaga campus, the RuellenDay Community Garden brings together GU students, staff, and faculty to grow fresh organic produce for the Campus Kitchen, a CCASL-sponsored meal-service program. Service-learning courses use the garden as a touchstone to teach about local issues of food insecurity and sustainability. Youth from CCASL’s mentoring partner programs use the garden as a resource to learn more about where their food comes from and how to make healthy meal choices. In addition to service opportunities within the Spokane area, a significant number of Gonzaga students commit to serving in other parts of our nation and world. Mission: Possible, an alternative Spring Break program, provides interested students with the opportunity to work for a service-immersion trip outside of Spokane. Typically, a group of about 10 to 20 students travel to one of ten sites around the country and serve local communities. Their projects, ranging from repairing and restoring houses to teaching English to former refugees, help broaden their perspectives of life in our diverse country. Another service-immersion program, Justice in January (JIJ), began in 2011 based on a desire to expand service opportunities for students at Gonzaga. JIJ takes place over Gonzaga’s winter break prior to the start of the Spring semester. The program aims to accompany and serve the immigrant population in the United States, as well as to enter into dialogue with local non-profits and government agencies to gain a broader perspective on U.S. immigration and border issues. In 2014, JIJ groups traveled to Tucson, AZ, and San Diego, CA.
DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMS One of the most rewarding elements of a Gonzaga education is its ability to expose students to different cultures. GU seeks to provide forums for engaging topics related to diversity—from guest lectures about civil rights to informal gatherings at Gonzaga’s Unity Multicultural Education Center
(UMEC). UMEC is an on-campus house dedicated to celebrating diversity, educating the campus about diversity issues, and providing academic advising and support for students of color and first-generation college students. During Spring Break, UMEC offers a program called the “ChiUrban Excursion,” which takes a group of Gonzaga students to Chicago to explore diversity and cultural issues in an urban setting. Additionally, the LGBT Resource Center at Gonzaga provides community, networking, research, and education for students, staff, and faculty related to diverse sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions concerns. In addition to a number of popular diversity and culture-focused student organizations on campus (see list on back page), the International Student Union ranks among the largest organizations on campus, boasting membership from over 45 different countries. By providing individuals with opportunities to experience a diversity of customs and traditions, Gonzaga helps students express their own identity while opening their eyes to the wide range of cultures represented on campus.
STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Gonzaga students are invited to participate in more than 100 extracurricular clubs and organizations. Academic clubs provide challenging opportunities for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to the real world. Career-oriented clubs enable students to join together to explore possible professional interests. Various student interest groups—whether focused on advocacy/education, cultural/ethnic groups, religious life, or hobbies—help students develop leadership skills, while allowing them to organize events and activities for causes they believe are important. Sports clubs offer friendly competition and opportunities for staying physically active. This array of activities contributes to Gonzaga’s strong sense of community by providing many opportunities to meet friends outside of the classroom. For a list of Gonzaga’s active student clubs and organizations, please see the back of this brochure.
ACTIVE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS AT GONZAGA
Advocacy/Educational Clubs & Organizations College Republicans Colleges Against Cancer G PLUS Gonzaga Environmental Organization Gonzaga Ethical Awareness Together Gonzaga Permies Gonzaga Students for Life Gonzaga University-United Students Against Sweatshops Helping Educate Regarding Orientation International Justice Mission Chapter She’s the First Speak Up! STOP Trafficking Club Students Advocating Sexual Health Awareness Students for Freedom Students With Diabetes The ONE Campaign Up Til Dawn Young Democrats of Gonzaga Cultural Clubs & Organizations Black Student Union Filipino American Student Union Hawaii Pacific Islanders Club International Student Union Irish Club Italian Club Japanese Club La Raza Latina Saudi Arabian Club Hobby/Interest Clubs & Organizations Bulldog Pack Skateboarding Society Gonzaga Outdoors Harry Potter Club
Kennel Club Man’s Best Friend Zag Enrichment of Non-Traditionals Honor Societies Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit colleges/universities) Eta Sigma Phi (Classical Studies) Iota Rho (Communication Studies) Kappa Delta Pi (Education) Mu Phi Epsilon (Music) Multicultural Honor Society National Residence Hall Honorary Nu Delta Alpha (Dance) Phi Alpha Theta (History) Tau Beta Pi (Engineering) Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Computing & Information Science) Music, Dance, & Performing Arts Clubs Big Bing Theory (a cappella group) Bomb Squad (hip-hop dance) Boundless (dance) Bulldog Band (pep band) Dance Team Gonzaga University Theatre Sports (improv comedy) Religious Clubs & Organizations Blessed John Paul II Fellowship Fellowship of Christian Athletes Gonzaga Witness Knights Of Columbus THIRST Service Clubs & Organizations Circle K Gonzaga Without Borders Knights of Gonzaga Setons Sports/Fitness Clubs Club Swim Team Club Tennis Cycling Club Golf Club Gonzaga Dodgeball Gonzaga University Hockey Club Gonzaga University Weightlifting Club Men’s Basketball Club Men’s Club Soccer Men’s Club Volleyball Men’s Lacrosse Club Men’s Rugby Club Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club Running Club Ski & Snowboard Club Women’s Club Basketball Women’s Club Soccer Women’s Lacrosse Club Women’s Rugby Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club Women’s Volleyball Club *For more information on clubs and organizations at Gonzaga, please visit: www.gonzaga.edu/zagtivities.
EXPERIENCE GU
Academic/Career Clubs & Organizations Actuarial Science Club Alpha Kappa Psi American Public Works Association American Society for Engineering Management American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers Beta Alpha Psi Bulldog Investment Group Career Center Representatives Collegiate DECA Gonzaga Student Nurses Association Health Sciences Club Human Physiology Club Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers Latin Club Materials Advantage Club Mock Trial Pre Law Society Psychology Club Public Relations Student Society of America Science Club Society for Human Resource Management Society of Automotive Engineers Society of Women Engineers Sport Management Club Writers Block