For the first time next fall, students interested in sustainability will be able to live with others who are environmentally aware in special on-campus housing. Likewise, students with an interest in community service will be able to live with other volunteers, said Bonnie Prunty, director of the Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs.

The sustainably conscious living and community service learning communities are part of an effort to expand special- interest housing and take the educational process a step further by requiring an academic component as part of the housing option.

Neither of these communities include a specific class. Instead members will participate in group programs.

Sustainability group members will learn how their lifestyles negatively affect the environment and brainstorm ways to reduce that impact. The service community will develop a group project and participate in monthly discussions.

The residential communities must also have clearly specified learning goals and a connection to the mission of the college. Soon, there will be a process for students to propose their own communities. The groups will need at least 12 students and a faculty adviser.

Sophomore Juliana Quant said there was no sense of cooperation in her residence hall last year. She wanted shared meals and shared responsibilities. So she brought her ideas for a sustainable community to the Ithaca College Environmental Society early last fall and later to the Office of Residential Life. The office was already thinking about developing learning communities.

“Since we are pretty much an offshoot from the environmental society, it made sense to have a sustainability focus,” Quant said. “We don’t have another earth. Once we’ve polluted all the air and all the freshwater, we can’t go someplace else.”

Prunty said the Housing Offering Multicultural Experience program, which has an educational aspect, may eventually fall into this new category of housing.

Prunty said her office worked with Quant and other interested students to develop their ideas into a proposal that would meet some of the guidelines of a learning community, even though the office hadn’t completely outlined the goals.

Quant said in addition to potlucks, carpools and field trips, the sustainability group has some ideas for educational programs. She would be interested in discussing consumer awareness, participatory economics and ways for students to reduce their ecological footprints.

She said even though it will be difficult to live in a sustainable manner in Terrace 3, where the community will probably take up part of one floor, she is anxious to see her visions become reality.

“If we are a college that promotes sustainability, then we have to do something about it,” she said.

Freshman Jack Haurin agreed. He said it will be good to live with other people who are concerned about the world.

“I hope people can connect and bring their different knowledge together and try to find ways to solve problems around the campus,” he said.

Quant said a lot of students are interested and supportive, but only seven have committed to housing so far.

However, Prunty said as long as current numbers don’t drop off, there shouldn’t be problems.

“I think we are pretty committed to making sure this particular community happens, especially since it is a student- initiated program,” Prunty said. “It is not often that a group of students have such a commitment to a topic and are willing to see the full process through.”

The other new community was initiated by the Office of Residential Life and the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement.

Terry Martinez, director of the center, said students who participate in service opportunities, particularly Community Plunge, were looking for a way to keep connected and continue serving. She said the Peer Volunteer Corps provides an ongoing outlet for students interested in this kind of service.

“I thought maybe it would be interesting to do an entire floor like that,” she said. “[Residential Life] has been working on trying to develop learning communities. When I approached them, they were more than eager to collaborate.”

Prunty said even though there have been no formal signups, students have already expressed interest in the service community, which will be housed in Terrace 8.

Applications for both learning communities are available in the Office of Residential Life beginning Monday, and are due Feb. 23. Accepted students will be announced Feb. 25 and room selection will be held March 1.

The process for proposing a learning community for Fall 2007 hasn’t been finalized, but interested students should visit the Office of Residential Life.