Residence Experience

The St. Jerome’s residence experience is designed to provide ample opportunities for students to gather and develop community together. We truly believe that the best kind of community is one that provides opportunities to creatively interact with the world around you, with the full support of the people around you. Our residence community provides you with the opportunities to live out the values of St. Jerome’s, and immerses you in a deep sense of belonging, lets you explore different perspectives, and is a space to continue your learning beyond the classroom.

Residence experience learning goals

Learning goals are broad concepts that help provide an initial framework for an educational plan, breaking down the big idea of the educational priority into more manageable concepts (Kerr, Edwards & Tweedy, 2020).

The following learning goals are derived from the Educational Priority:

Self Understanding

Goal: Students will learn develop a strong self understanding and take responsibility for their journey of growth.

Narrative: At SJU, students will learn about themselves as learners, community members, and global citizens. They will explore their strengths and opportunities for growth, practice emotional regulation, learn to advocate for their needs, articulate their values, and respect the boundaries of others. By developing a more nuanced understanding of themselves, students will gain a deeper appreciation for their own inherent dignity and the inherent dignity of others.

Community

Goal: Students will learn to collaborate well with others and build awareness and appreciation of shared values, goals, and challenges.

Narrative: In community, students will recognize their well-being is linked to the well-being of others through spaces that encourage interdependence. Students will recognize their role as active citizens and community builders within communal settings and will commit to practices of living well with others. They will develop collaboration and communication skills to navigate conflict constructively and to create better outcomes for the benefit of all.

Dignity of All

Goal: Students will learn about and respect the inherent worth of every individual.

Narrative: Students will grow in their recognition and appreciation for the dignity and unique gifts of each person. They will develop a deep sense of curiosity, humility, and empathy to learn from and understand people whose lives and perspectives may differ from their own. Students will have opportunities to build cross-cultural competence and to engage issues of power and privilege to respectfully encounter and advocate for the dignity of others.

Purpose

Goal: At SJU, students will learn to integrate who they are with what they do, in alignment with their values.

Narrative: Students will recognize their unique gifts and explore how they can share those with their communities and the world. Students will confront the big questions of life, explore and refine their values, and cultivate their character and integrity to make thoughtful and informed decisions that reflect what truly matters to them. Students will learn to lead their own lives with intention, authenticity, and in service to others.

Reflection and Meaning Making

Goal: Students will reflect on and integrate their experiences, develop critical thinking, and align their actions with their deepened understandings.

Narrative: At the heart of both reflection and meaning making lies lifelong learning—a commitment to continual growth and development. Students will learn to integrate past experiences with new understandings, to analyze, question, and challenge their assumptions, and to frame their learning within the broader context of their purpose and vocation. Students will be encouraged to align their actions with their new learning in the pursuit of becoming wiser and kinder individuals and community members.

Involvement Opportunities

As a member of the St. Jerome’s community, you will have opportunities to get involved in any of the following groups or activities – plus much more! At the start of each term, students are asked to complete the Residence Involvement Survey when it is emailed out. The results of this survey will provide the Residence and Community Life Team with the info to help get students connected starting day one.

Campus Ministry

Support the brainstorming and planning of campus ministry events and activities.

PRISM

Become a PRISM volunteer and help facilitate and attend campus events that focus on advocating and supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Residence Community Dinner Planning Team

Work with a small team to brainstorm community dinner themes, games and food for our monthly residence event, and help plan the end-of-term residence formal.

Residence Council

Apply to become a floor rep to support dons in planning floor meetings and floor events, help other students on different floors to connect and get to know each other and support the Residence and Community Life team in building, compiling and distributing the residence survey feedback.

Residence Green Team

Support St. Jerome’s sustainability initiatives by spearheading projects, programs and education efforts to reduce the residence’s environmental footprint.

Intramural Teams

Sign up to be on a Waterloo intramural team, made up of your St. Jerome’s residence peers and pals. The programs listed above are the most formal ways for students get connected and contribute to the St. Jerome’s community. There are also many informal opportunities, including drop-in social programming throughout the term, volunteer opportunities, and wellness workshops that students can join as they are able.

Student Leadership

Student leadership opportunities at St. Jerome’s offers you the change to deepen your community connection and develop your skills through meaningful experiences for any comfort level. With groups like the Off-Campus Community, Students’ Union, PRISM, Student Activities Team, Residence Council, and more, there is something for everyone. Student leadership is a great way to support and develop your community while building a variety of skills that can help make your resume shine.

There are leadership opportunities throughout your time at St. Jerome’s, so keep an eye out for the opportunity that speaks to you.

House System

St. Jerome’s participates in a house system, which means that students are sorted into one of four Houses when they arrive on move-in day, and participate in spirited competitions throughout the year! Upper year students have the choice of returning to their original house or adopting the house of their current floor.

St. Jerome's Houses

Leon House

Leon House is named for Sister Leon White, a former St. Jerome’s English professor and Dean of Women, who advanced women’s education and broke barriers in higher education. The gender symbols on the house crest reflect her unwavering commitment to gender equality. Today, Leon House upholds her legacy of academic excellence, empowerment and leadership.

Spetz House

Spetz House is named for St. Jerome’s former president, Father Spetz, who strengthened the school's academic reputation and secured our affiliation with the University of Waterloo. The diploma on the house crest symbolizes his commitment to holistic education, balancing academics with extracurriculars to foster character, teamwork and leadership. Spetz House reminds us of the importance of a well-rounded approach to personal and intellectual growth.

Taylor House

Taylor House honors the first female chaplain at St. Jerome’s, Sister Marie Taylor, who nurtured students’ spiritual growth and built a strong faith-based community. The dove in the house crest symbolizes her commitment to faith, peace and personal development. Taylor House continues her legacy of compassion, service and spiritual support.

Zinger House

Zinger House is named for St. Jerome’s graduate and former president, Father Zinger, who expanded our campus, curriculum and community ties—most notably through his role as one of the founding members of St. Mary’s Hospital. The hammer on the house crest symbolizes his dedication to building a strong and lasting legacy. Zinger House reflects his values of community, academic excellence and service.

Off Campus Community

Connecting with your student community is an important part of your university experience, and regardless of whether you live on or off campus, you can use St. Jerome’s as your home base at Waterloo by becoming part of our Off-Campus Community (OCC), you join a network of other students with a close connection to St. Jerome’s.

Consider joining our Off-Campus Community if you are not currently living in the St. Jerome’s residence and are:

A first-year student co-registered with St. Jerome’s
An upper-year student co-registered with St. Jerome’s
A past resident of St. Jerome’s

Perks of the OCC include:

OCC specific programs and events
Use of St. Jerome’s spaces for studying or socializing
Access to residence fridge Community Dinners are offered at a discounted cost
Residence community events

Fill out the OCC registration form to become a part of the Off-Campus Community. You can join at any time, but consider joining at the beginning of the term to build your community.