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If you cannot find what you need here, please don't hesitate to contact Alex Warner , IRW Learning Community Coordinator for more information. We'd love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have!
What are the goals of the IRW LC?
What do LC Scholars do throughout the semester?
Who can apply?
What are the prerequisites?
Will I get credit for being an IRW LC Scholar?
What are my responsibilities as an IRW Learning Community Scholar?
What is the final project?
How will I benefit from being in the IRW LC?
Who should I contact for more information?
How can I apply to the IRW LC?
Does my application package need to be complete before I submit it?
What are the goals of the IRW LC?
The IRW Learning Community's goals are that our Scholars:
- become aware of the array of learning opportunities Rutgers has to offer;
- learn ideas and concepts related to the IRW theme;
- help create and maintain a sense of community;
- demystify the academe and build academic skills;
- develop research skills.
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What do LC Scholars do throughout the semester?
The majority of LC meetings focused on engaging scholars with readings and ideas related to the IRW theme. More specifically, a key component of the IRW Learning Community is attending the Distinguished Lecture Series—usually three per semester. Before each IRW Distinguished Lecture, the Scholars read and discuss an article by the upcoming lecturer in order to familiarize themselves with specialized vocabulary and key concepts relevant to the topic/lecturer. Following the lecture, the Scholars meet again to debrief their experiences and discuss what they learned about the IRW theme from attending the lecture.
Each semester, Scholars meet with Women’s and Gender Studies Librarian Kayo Denda, who presents a research methods class tailored to the Learning Community theme and objectives as well as scholars’ initial thoughts about their research topics.
Throughout the semester, Scholars also use Sakai to develop community protocols, continue conversations about talks in the IRW Distinguished Lecture Series, and share reflections on community experiences such as the field trip to the United Nations. Scholars also use Sakai to circulate drafts of research outlines and offer one another feedback.
Another major component of the IRW Learning Community is the Final Project in which Scholars investigate topics of their choice related to the IRW theme. Each semester, as a group, the Scholars develop project timelines with target due dates for outlines, bibliographies, drafts and final versions of their projects. Based on their topics, Scholars are assigned to a mentor chosen from among participants in the IRW’s weekly faculty-graduate interdisciplinary seminar. whom they are required to meet with their mentor at least once. At the end of each semester, the Scholars presented their research at events attended by their IRW mentors, other Rutgers faculty and staff and Scholars’ family and friends.
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Who can apply to become an IRW LC scholar? Can men apply? Do applicants have to be Women's and Gender Studies majors or minors?
All Rutgers juniors or seniors, regardless of major, gender or previous experience with Women and Gender Studies may apply. Our goal is to create a community which includes a wide range of students and reflects the diversity of the Rutgers student population.
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What are the prerequisites for participating in the IRW Learning Community?
There are no curricular prerequisites, and students from all New Brunswick campuses and majors are welcome to participate. Although attention to women's experiences and the operations of gender in society are central to the IRW's mission, students in the learning community need have no prior experience in studying gender or women.
We ask that applicants will be Juniors or Seniors (in the semester for which they are applying for the LC) and that they have achieved a GPA of at least 2.5.
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Will I get credit for being in the Learning Community?
Yes; students admitted to the Learning Community will receive 1.5 credits for successfully completing the semester. IRW LC Scholars will receive special permission numbers to register for the course.
IRW Learning Community Scholars will receive other kinds of credit, too: Recognition on your resume for taking part in the learning community and presenting at the end-of-semester event; deeper relationships with faculty and research professionals who support you and your work; meaningful connections with other Rutgers students who share your interests while challenging and inspiring you to think critically.
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What are my responsibilities as an IRW Learning Community Scholar?
The IRW Learning Community will meet from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on Thursdays at the IRW on Douglass Campus. Students will participate in 12-14 LC meetings during the semester they are enrolled, which includes attendance at three IRW Distinguished Lectures.
In addition, students will work individually or in small groups on a final project of their choosing to pursue their own interests in the intersections of rights and culture and will present the products of their work at a public event at the end of the semester.
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What is the final project?
Each IRW Scholar will plan and carry-out a small-scale research project that results in a five-minute public presentation and a five-page write-up.
The idea is to offer Scholars the opportunity to pursue a research topic of interest to them. This research may someday become the springboard for future work in either an Honors thesis or graduate research project. IRW LC Scholars may choose to work alone or in a group and the topic can be anything related to the IRW theme. We’ve left the guidelines purposely broad so you can design your own project with guidance from the LC coordinator and your fellow learning community members.
As a class, the IRW LC attends a special research session with a Rutgers librarian and have regular discussions and workshops related to helping you shape and carry out your project. In addition, each Scholar will be assigned an IRW mentor (either a faculty member or advanced graduate student) and work closely with the LC Coordinator throughout the research process.
For an idea of past final projects, take a look at the programs from the Fall 2008 Final Project Presentations.
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How will I benefit from being in the IRW Learning Community?
IRW Learning Community Scholars will develop relationships with faculty who share their interests in the complexities of rights and cultures, thereby allowing students to develop advanced understandings of these topics.
The IRW's weekly seminar brings together Rutgers faculty and graduate students, joined by IRW Global Scholars from other universities, to discuss their work-in-progress as it addresses the IRW theme. In addition, each semester the IRW hosts three distinguished lecturers, each an expert on different aspects of the IRW theme.
Brief readings and discussions about each speaker's background and contributions will help students prepare to take an active role in the lectures, participate during the Q and A sessions and talk informally with guest lecturers.
IRW Learning Community Scholars will gain valuable experience in talking with faculty as co-researchers and as an outgrowth of working with them, faculty will be better able to guide and support LC Scholars as they pursue senior honors projects, explore post-baccalaureate educational options, and embark upon their careers.
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How can I find out more about the IRW Learning Community?
Please contact the IRW LC Coordinator, Alex Warner, with any questions.
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How can I apply to the IRW LC?
Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2010 Learning Community; for an application, please click here for doc or PDF or email the IRW LC Coordinator, Alex Warner . In general, applications are accepted each semester for the following semester. Please contact the LC Coordinator, Alex Warner, if you have any questions or wish to be placed on a mailing list to be notified about future IRW Learning Community themes and application timelines as they become available.
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Does my application package have to be complete for me to submit it?
Feel free to send documents as you complete them. Note in particular that your Faculty Letter of Support may be sent separately by your recommender, but please be sure to indicate who will be writing for you and how to contact her/him. You cannot be accepted as an LC scholar until your application is complete.
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