Student Programs

The Virginia Tech PylonsThe Pylons Programming Model

Brotherhood – Duty – Honor – Leadership – Loyalty – Sacrifice – Service – Ut Prosim

The Pylons model was created during the 2005-06 academic year and revamped during the 2008-09 academic year. The Pylons model blends VT tradition with the ever-changing needs of on-campus residents. Below is a description of the model.

Definition of Terms

Programmers – all student staff members who program within the Pylons model

Active program – any interactive activity or event where residents attend and participate

Passive program – any program that doesn’t involve person-person interaction (e.g. bulletin boards, displays, etc)

A “month” – Aug/Sep; October; Nov/Dec; January; February; March; Apr/May

The Pylons

Each of the eight Pylon values is an important VT value to be associated with Residence Hall programming. Ut Prosim “That I May Serve” functions as both the VT motto and an overall value to be considered in programming. Each of the remaining seven Pylon values has been assigned to a month as a consistent, campus-wide programming theme for that month:

Fall

Aug/Sept – Brotherhood

October – Loyalty

Nov/Dec – Sacrifice

Spring

January – Leadership

February – Duty

March – Honor

Apr/May – Service

The Programming Topic Areas

While the Pylon values provide the philosophical foundation for the Pylons model, the programming topic areas provide the specific guidance as to what areas programmers should focus on when planning programs. The programmer is required to complete programs that meet the needs associated with each of the following topic areas:

Click on any topic area to link to program ideas related to that topic area!

  • Safety & Security
  • Diversity & Multicultural awareness
  • Academic success
  • Professional & Career Development
  • Sustainability
  • Wellness & Life Skills
  • Relationships
  • Campus involvement
  • Community outreach & service

Requirements for Programmers

The table below quantifies the programming requirements for programmers and supervisors.

Bulletin Boards (BBs) - Programmers must complete at least 1 BB per month for a total of 7 BBs per year;

Community Development - Programmers must complete at least 1 CD per month for a total of 5 CDs per semester;

Program - Programmers must completeat least 1 Program per month for a total of 5 programs per semester.

Programming - Attendance for Credit

There will be multiple opportunities to attend programs with your residents to receive programming credit within the various topic areas. These opportunities carry with them the requirements and limits as listed below:

  • Hokie F6 – this collection of programs during the first six weeks provides programming that will easily fit within multiple topic areas during the first month of the year, Aug/Sept.
    • Programmers may attend as many of these as they would like for Community Development credit, but many attend no more than two events for programming credit.
  • Fall Programming series – this collection of programs was created using heavily requested programs and offices to provide an easy programming option for staff and an easier programming format for the University offices involved.
    • Programmers must attend one of these programs during the fall semester and may attend up to two for credit.
  • Spring Programs – Once the spring activities calendar for our various University resources begin to take form, the Imaginarium Website will have a page dedicated to listing programs that programmers may attend with their residents for credit.
    • Programmers may attend up to two spring programs for credit.

Individual and Team programming

Residence Life values individual and collaborative, or “team”, programming. The following describe the requirements associated with each:

Individual program – An active program that the programmer facilitates with no assistance from other staff members. All programs attended for credit are individual programs. Team program – An active program on which no more than 3 programmers collaborate. A programmer may complete no more than 4 team programs per year.

Area Programming

Each residential area will facilitate area programs. Programs can be social and/or educational in nature. All programmers are required to participate in the planning and/or facilitation of area programs. Each area will facilitate:

  • ONE area opening social (fall; part of Hokie F6)
  • ONE Diversity Days program (spring)

All other area-wide program involvement is up to the discretion of the area leadership team. Area programs may not receive credit as team programs.

Programming Addendums

Below you will find templates dedicated to assisting programmers with meeting the needs of a variety of resident populations. Click the double-rectangle at the top of each addendum to display the full size document.