Education

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 9 PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE & THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY LIVING & LEARNING CENTRE MORE THAN A BUILDING By Shel Zolkewich for the Free Press Above: The new Living and Learning Centre at Providence University College and Theological Seminary in the final stages of construction. Bottom, L-R: Cameron McKenzie (Providence provost and VP academic), Marlin Reimer (Providence associate VP for student life), and Cody Quiring (Providence VP, external relations). Providence photos When the doors of the new Living and Learning Centre at Providence University College and Theological Seminary open early next year, it will represent a bold new concept for campus life. "It's not just a building that houses beds and students," said Marlin Reimer, associate vice-president for student life. "All aspects of education will be happening in the living spaces. These are flexible spaces intended for people to truly connect." After a fire destroyed an existing on-campus residence in 2017, the Providence team saw it as an opportunity to take a step forward in how students live and learn. They travelled to Texas to tour a university that was showcasing the process of creating significant community spaces — more than simply dormitories. Back at home, a design and architecture team went to work on the rebuild. Providence has a combined enrolment of roughly 500 students, half of which live on campus in Otterburne, Man. The school was founded in 1925 as the Winnipeg Bible Training School. Today, it's one of Canada's leading Christian universities. A large percentage of students come from Manitoba with about 20 per cent of the university population being international students. The new three-storey Living and Learning Centre features student apartments on the second and third floors. Each of these floors has two pods with eight rooms each, plus communal areas for study, lounging and conversation. "The design is intended to encourage interaction and deter isolation," Reimer said. "It's really important for students to connect with their peers, especially in their first year." He added that maintaining student mental health and supporting them in university life is key. The ground floor is dedicated to community spaces and includes a large group study area, classrooms, a prayer and worship space, a community kitchen and two apartments for staff to live onsite. Funding for the new centre came mostly through insurance, with additional contributions from the university's Impact 2020 campaign and its donors. It's on track to raise $14.5 million for additional projects at the school. More opportunities for on-campus living is a priority. "We really believe that your educational experience will be enhanced if you live on campus," Reimer said. "There are just so many more opportunities to grow." Reimer pointed out that a strong campus community has benefits beyond what students are studying. "Learning always happens outside of the classroom," he said. "We believe these spaces will encourage discussion about diversity, faith and the importance of community. "We'll have evenings where international students take over the community kitchen, prepare a meal and talk about their countries." Providence has an open enrolment, meaning students from all faiths are welcome. The majority of students share a Christian background. The university leads in communications, media, science and business programs while the seminary provides academic programs for spiritual leaders. "We care a lot for our students and want to continue to create a place that will increase their love of learning," Reimer said. "A strong commitment to campus life is part of that." For more information, visit prov.ca. ❚

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