Download the Freshman Application

STRIVE (Serving Together Reaching Integrity, Values & Engagement) Community is a living and learning community coordinated by the Butler Center for Service and Leadership and Pearson Residential College. Participants in the STRIVE program are committed to civic engagement, volunteer service and leadership endeavors. Residents participating in this highly selective community commit to a lifestyle of a number of service and leadership hours each week, a mentoring relationship, for-credit academic classes and a number of shared experiences and campus programs.

"STRIVE to make something of yourself, then STRIVE to make the most of yourself." - Alexander Crummell

When considering options for your on-campus housing, consider the new STRIVE Community for the 2012-2013 academic year! Beyond providing a place to live, the STRIVE Community is an innovative program where members demonstrate a commitment to community service and leadership.

Do you have a passion for service? Do you aspire to be the next great student leader on campus? We are looking for you! The STRIVE community provides you with a number of benefits. First-year participants will be paired with upperclassmen in a structured mentoring relationship to get on the fast track to student leadership and personal success. Students will have the opportunity to give back to the community through direct community service opportunities. Finally, students will have the opportunity to network with a number of faculty, staff, alumni, business and community leaders. Choose to distinguish yourself as a part of the STRIVE Community!

• Applicants must be first-year, full-time undergraduate students at the University of Miami during the 2012-2013 academic year.
• Attendance at all weekly STRIVE House Meetings, which take place from 4:30 to 6:00 pm on Sunday afternoons. House Meetings occur 3 times per a month.
• Attendance at all monthly STRIVE Service Saturdays, which generally begin at 8am and generally last until 2pm, but are flexible depending on service day.
• Full participation in a STRIVE service day planning group. This includes selecting a community partner and assisting them with planning a service day, as well as creating a presentation on the social issue of the service day.
• Consistent service with the service day group’s community partner throughout the year.
• Completion of three hours of direct service, three hours of leadership and two hours of work with a community partner every two weeks.
• Regular submission of activity logs and completion of assessment measures to determine if 
intended learning outcomes are being reached.
• Full participation in all STRIVE mentoring and networking opportunities, including weekly meetings with an upperclassmen mentor.
• Full investment in the STRIVE Community including regular participation and attendance at all STRIVE meetings and events.
• Participation in a post-service day video interview after completion of a service day.

Housed in Pearson Residential College (4th Floor) at the University of Miami, participants will live in 2-bedroom, 4-person rooms. All participants will be required to move-in early for an orientation to the STRIVE community (exact dates TBA according to the orientation schedule).

Freshmen
Applications: due Sept. 13, 2013
Interviews: Sept. 14-15, 2013

Download the Freshman Application

Upperclassmen
Applications for membership in the 2013-2014 school year are closed. Please check back in the spring to apply for the next school year.

Special Interest Housing - Floor Member Application

There are a limited number of spaces available in the program. If chosen for the STRIVE program, you will be reassigned to the 4th floor of Pearson Residential College by the Department of Residence Halls (note that you will need to apply for on-campus housing). If you are not selected, the housing assignment process will continue as advertised by the Department of Residence Halls.

Though open to both freshmen and upperclassmen students, only upperclassmen members are able to live together on the 4th floor of Pearson Residential College

Overall, the STRIVE program allows participants to develop an increased sense of connection with people who share similar interests, as well as providing students with the necessary skills and tools to become catalysts for social change.

If you have questions about STRIVE, you can contact the Butler Center at (305) 284-4483 or by email at leadandserve@miami.edu.