Animals and Society
This is an opportunity for people who love animals and want to learn more about how humans and animals interact, now and in the past, and about preparing for careers working with animals. Students living in the Animals and Society learning community will be housed together on the second floor of Seneca Hall in CIW. Students will learn about animal domestication, history, care, and uses in society. We will be involved in hand-on activities working with animals and animal products. We will learn how to make art and clothing from animal products, how to care for different kinds of animals, how animals are used in human health and human activities. CIW’s location in the woods next to the Nature Preserve is the ideal setting to live, learn and explore our past, present, and future with animals.
All intended majors welcome. We envision interest in pre-vet students, as well as biology, anthropology, psychology and integrative neuroscience majors. As part of this community, you'll take a 2 credit course in the Fall semester with Dr. Merriwether on the Domestication of Animals. While it is aimed at Freshmen, it is open to students of all levels.
If you select interest in this learning community, you can expect to receive an email from Andy Merriwether with application instructions for CIW’s learning communities in your binghamton.edu email address. For more information, email CIW's Collegiate Professor, Andy Merriwether, at andym@binghamton.edu.
Environmental Action and Studies
Are you an incoming first-year student who is passionate about the environment? The CIW Environmental Action and Studies (EAS) learning community will house students together on one floor of Onondaga Hall who are committed to learning about and acting on the pressing environmental issues of our day. Students in this program have the opportunity to live alongside others who share an interest in exploring sustainable solutions for local, national and global issues, and in promoting positive environmental community awareness and change. The EAS learning community will take advantage of CIW’s space in the woods and at the Nature Preserve's edge, its continued commitment to civic engagement and the community's foundational history as a space of environmental activism.
All intended majors welcome. But, as part of this community, you'll take two shared environmentally focused courses in the fall semester. You will take an introductory academic course in the Environmental Studies Program (ENVI 101, 105, or 201, depending on individual circumstances). In addition, every member will be enrolled in a 2-credit cornerstone seminar taught by a member of the Environmental Studies program that explores a special environmental topic, introduces students to Binghamton's vast array of environmental and sustainability initiatives and groups, and connects you to faculty exploring these issues across many fields. The spring semester will feature a course or community service project that will be decided upon in the fall.
If you select interest in this learning community, you can expect to receive an email from Andy Merriwether with application instructions for CIW’s learning communities in your binghamton.edu email address. For more information, email CIW's Collegiate Professor, Andy Merriwether, at andym@binghamton.edu.
Signing up for a Learning Community
First-year students: you will be able to enroll in the Learning Communities when you have paid your housing deposit and request housing online. Returning or second-year students — contact Collegiate Professor, Andy Merriwether, to express your interest.
Faculty Fellows
College-in-the-Woods has a Faculty Fellows program which connects University faculty and staff that are eager to work with students and participate in the academic life of CIW. We have events throughout the year that provide an opportunity for CIW students to meet with Faculty Fellows including the Fresh Start program during opening weekend and Student-Faculty Dinners during course registration.