For first-year students, the transition to college life can feel daunting. Finding a community, adjusting to academics and navigating new social experiences all at once is no small task. Bucknell’s Residential College Program seeks to ease this transition by providing an integrated living-learning experience that fosters both intellectual and personal growth.
Kelly Finley, Director of the Residential Colleges, describes the program as a way for students to form strong academic and social connections from the very start of their college journey. “The Residential College Program is an opportunity for first-year students to live and learn together based on a common academic theme,” Finley explains. “Students take a seminar together, live in the same residence hall and engage in co-curricular activities that extend their learning beyond the classroom.”
Each of Bucknell’s Residential Colleges focuses on a different theme: Environmental, Global, Humanities, Society & Technology, Discovery, Food, Arts, and Languages & Cultures. First-year students enrolled in these programs take a foundation seminar aligned with their college’s theme while participating in events, discussions and mentorship opportunities that deepen their engagement with the subject matter.
Beyond academics, the program cultivates a sense of belonging. “It helps students form immediate connections,” Finley says. “Having a built-in community from day one can make all the difference in a student’s college experience.”
Alice Jackins ’25, current Program Fellow (PF) and previous Junior Fellow (JF), knows firsthand how influential the program can be. “As a JF, my role was to support first-year students in the program, helping them navigate both academics and social life,” Jackins explains. “We plan events, facilitate discussions and make sure everyone feels included.”
Jackins participated in the program as a first-year and says it had a profound impact on her college experience. “It was one of the best decisions I made coming into Bucknell,” she says. “I immediately had a close group of peers who shared my interests and I built relationships with professors and upperclassmen that lasted beyond my first year.”
For those who wish to continue their Res College experience but are not looking to be a JF, they can take part in the Residential College Alumni Program (RCAP). This program is open to students regardless of whether they were a part of a Res College during their first year. RCAP has two pieces: a dinner seminar and housing. Finley explained, “The dinner seminar is a quarter credit, pass-fail course that offers students a meal and is student-led. There is a faculty member involved, but the students have a large say in deciding what the class is going to do.” She continued, “Then there is the residential piece. RCAP has some beds in Roberts, Trax and Kress as well as Larrison Cottage, and students who take the dinner seminar get priority over that housing. This is a great way for students to have the opportunity to live with other academically minded students.”
For students considering a Residential College, Jackins emphasizes the unique support system it provides.“Adjusting to college can be overwhelming, but being part of this program makes it feel a lot more manageable,” she says. “You have people looking out for you from the start.”
Jackson Becker ’25, who currently serves as the other PF for the Residential Colleges, agrees that the program’s structure helps students form meaningful connections early on.
“My job as PF is to mentor the JFs and oversee the student leadership side of the program,” Becker explains. “I make sure our programming runs smoothly and help create a strong, supportive environment for the first-years.” Becker participated in the Humanities Residential College as a first-year, later becoming a JF for two years before stepping into his current leadership role. “The Residential College Program really shaped my Bucknell experience,” Becker says. “The seminar I took during my first year introduced me to an area of study, Classics, that is now one of my majors along with environmental engineering.”
He also highlights the value of the program’s interdisciplinary approach. “What’s great about these colleges is that they aren’t tied to your major,” Becker notes. “I’m an engineering major, but my Residential College experience exposed me to humanities courses that broadened my perspective and made me a more well-rounded student.”
For students debating whether to enroll in a Residential College, both Jackins and Becker strongly encourage them to take the leap.
“It’s a great way to make friends, explore an academic interest and have a built-in support system,” Jackins says. “Even if you don’t think the theme of a particular Residential College will directly relate to your major, the experience itself is valuable in so many ways as long as you’re interested in the theme.”
Becker agrees, emphasizing the impact the program can have on a student’s overall college experience. “The Residential College Program helps you find your place at Bucknell early on,” he says. “It makes the transition to college so much easier and gives you opportunities to connect with people you might not meet otherwise.”
Finley echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the program’s focus on community and intellectual engagement. “We want students to feel excited about learning and about being part of something bigger than themselves,” she says. “The Residential College Program fosters that excitement and helps students build a strong foundation for their time at Bucknell.”
As Bucknell continues to develop and enhance the Residential College experience, the program remains a cornerstone of the University’s commitment to integrative learning and student support. For incoming first-years looking for a way to make the most of their transition to college, the Residential College Program offers a compelling and enriching path forward.
