Academic Mentor Network

Bruce Hall’s Academic Mentor Network is made up of later year students who achieve a distinction average in the preceding academic year.

These residents volunteer their time to help other residents, particularly those in their first and second year of study, with the transition to university by providing a peer network of academic mentors who can be consulted informally on an ad hoc basis.

Regardless of the program you’re studying, you’re sure to have a later year student or a peer to help you at any stage during your studies.

Learning Communities

The first of ANU’s Learning Communities, the Sustainability Learning Community (SLC), was established at Bruce Hall in 2005.  Since this time, the SLC and other learning communities established at Bruce Hall have helped to shape the ANU learning community model, in which both residential and non-residential students engage in learning experiences which complement their other academic studies, integrate academic life with other aspects of life and provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to ‘real-world’ projects.

In 2012, there are five active Learning Communities based at Bruce Hall:

• Arts
• Asia and the Pacific
• Middle East
• Rhetoric
• Sustainability

Each Learning Community is coordinated by a Senior Residential Scholarship recipient whose role involves running events for, and disseminating information to its respective members.

See Learning Communities for further information about each Learning Community.

High Table Dinners

Speakers from within Bruce Hall, from the academic colleges of the ANU and from the broader community are invited to High Table Dinners to make presentations and lead discussions.  High Tables are seen as an opportunity to extend knowledge and engage in discussion around topics that may or may not be within a resident’s chosen field of study.

In recent times, presenters have included professors of psychology, astrophysics and law; senior members of foreign embassies including the Ambassador for Sweden and the US Defense Attache Operations Cooordinator; senior officers of the Australian Public Service and members of major law and accounting firms.

A feature of High Tables is that they are generally organised by student leaders within the Hall, including Senior Residents, calling on a range of skills including event management and planning, interpersonal and public speaking skills.

High Tables in 2012 have so far included such diverse themes as Australian Politics, Food Sustainability, the Relationship between Science and Art, Alternative Energies, Poverty, the Egyptian Revolution, and Ancienty History in Film.

Bruce Hall Academic Journal – Cross-sections

As part of the Rhetoric Learning Community, residents have the opportunity to take part in the production of the Bruce Hall Academic Journal (Cross-sections). Cross-sections is a refereed collection of essays and art work submitted by residents in July each year. Academic staff members from the ANU generously act as reviewers for the journal.

Read current and past editions of Cross Sections at ANU eView

Bruce Hall Fellows

More information about Bruce Hall Fellows coming soon!