Goals In Action: College Inspired Cultures
Moriah Bernhardt, Director of Community Life at Clermont Park
Martha Loats, Resident from Clermont Park
Andrew Steward, Masterpiece Living Coordinator at Clermont Park
Judy Scholten, Director of Independent Living at Raybrook
Marenta Klinger, Director of Masterpiece Living at Holland Home
Keys to a College Inspired Culture:
 Focus on Growth
o Purposeful programming is the norm when all classes are new,
novel, and complex.
o Learning is the ultimate goal of each class.
o Increase engagement by providing an avenue for residents to share
their skills, talents, and experiences.
 An Inclusive Spirit
o An opportunity to bring residents from across the campus together
to learn
o Unites team members and residents in planning and experiencing
learning together
o Teach classes across the levels of living.
o Small groups facilitate richer social connection.
o Include the greater community! Connect with universities,
churches, NORCs, charitable organizations, etc.
 Structure
o Tracking engagement is built into the college model through course
credits.
o Semesters/Trimesters provide an opportunity to dig deeper into
topics or themes.
o Keep momentum going with weekly committee meetings, etc.
o Consider the budget necessary to support your college.
A Guide to Get Your College Started!
Build a Team
 Think of team members and residents that would be energized by
working on this project. Invite them to join!
 What are the overall goals of your college?
 When will the team meet regularly to sustain momentum?
 How will you structure the college?
Here is an example of the REAL Academy structure (Raybrook):
Holland Home
Executive
Leadership
Director of
Masterpiece
Living:
1. Appointed
by Holland
Home
Executive
Campus
Advisory
Board:
1. Program
evaluation
based on the
goals & SIPS
3. Chairs or
appoints the
Chair of the
Campus
Advisory Bd.
2. With IL Director,
recruits/appoints
members for the
Campus Advisory
Board
2. Participate in yearly
review, evaluate & report
on goals and responsibilities
to the Campus Advisory Bd.
Curriculum
Committee:
1. Develop a monthly menu
of classes and activities
that relate to MPL goals
Implementation
Committee:
1. Schedule the adopted
monthly menu of REAL
classes and events.
Promotion
Committee:
1. Produce &
distribute the
R.E.A.L
booklet.
4. With the Campus
Advisory Bd.,
Appoints
Subcommittee
Chairs and members.
3. Adopt monthly programs
of classes and activities as
developed and presented by
the Curriculum Committee.
2. Using resident polling
& focus groups to
determine the interests
of residents
3. Present these monthly
menus of classes and
events to the Campus
Advisory Bd. for
approval/adoption.
2. Arrange for: Room arrangements,
Equipment, R.E.A.L rep to greet and
introduce, & Send an appreciation
note and, if appropriate, an
honorarium
2. Encourage
resident
participation.
3. Collect data to evaluate
participation style, judge
interest, inform the
Implementation Committee
on time and day of class
popularity.
Build Curriculum
 Will courses be released monthly, quarterly or in a semester/trimester
format?
 Will course credits be involved? How will you determine the worth of
each course?
 Will course credits be tracked? If so, how?
 What will the course structure look like?
 How will you recruit teachers?
 What community connections do you have that might be able to
support your college?
Build the College Class
 How will you communicate the course work to residents?
 How will you incentivize attendance?
 How will you celebrate the accomplishments of a college class?