The transition from high school to college is usually more challenging than students expect. It is not just acclimating to a higher level of knowledge, but it is also adjusting to a new environment. At times students become overwhelmed with the discovery of freedom. Delphi can help with this transition. The living-learning community allows students to take steps to become familiar with their new home.
Delphi consists of only 296 students. That may seem large to some people but when you put it against the 11,000 student population at UWF it is small. Martin Hall, the residence hall where Delphi is housed, was built so that we could create even smaller communities.
There is one Resident Assistant (RA) for every 30 students and 12 RAs throughout the building. An RA is a student staff member who lives on each hall way within the building. Their job is to facilitate community building and assist residents with any concerns they may have as well as help with the daily running of the building. The RA is able to get to really know their residents on a personal level. This knowledge will assist the RA in making sure the student receives the information and assistance he or she may need.
Along with RAs there are Peer Assistant Leaders, known as Argo PALs, who also live throughout the building. Argo PALs are students who are in their second year at UWF or greater. Their role is to help students focus on their academics which is the purpose for coming to UWF. The Argo PALs have been trained on the resources available on campus to help with academic needs. Furthermore, they assist with setting up study groups and providing programs with focus on academic needs such as time management and test taking skills.
The residents of Delphi play an important role in the program. They are why the program exists and how it comes to life. The residents have the opportunity to take common classes with people in Delphi. These common classes include English Composition, College Algebra, Calculus, American History, Biology, Marine Biology, and Academic Foundation Seminar. By taking classes together, students meet their fellow residents and can form study groups easily. The students also encourage each other to attend class and hold each other accountable.
Each semester the students in Delphi have a cumulative GPA higher than that of the general freshmen class. Furthermore, Delphi students have a higher retention rate than the general class. Delphi helps students to become successful their first year at UWF through the combination of curriculum and co-curriculum activities.