Social and Community Engagement

Social and Community Engagement

Finding life/study/work balance is paramount to any student’s happiness and success.   The close-knit St Mark’s community makes it easy to enjoy a well-balanced life with opportunities for students to participate in social events, become student leaders or get involved in charity work.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that students who live at residential colleges have better engagement across academic and extracurricular activities.

This rings true at St Mark’s where students are encouraged to make the most of their time at College. Living in close proximity to fellow students and staff makes it easier to get involved in the College’s vibrant social and events program. It also enables them to connect with the wider community through charitable and volunteering opportunities.

St Mark’s is aware that a residential college needs to provide much more than a bedroom and must offer opportunities and resources to support students’ social and community development.

Communal Dining

Communal dining at St Mark’s gives students the chance to take a break from the rigours of study and connect with each other in a relaxed setting.

The traditional college-style communal dining room, the Dining Hall, is the beating heart of St Mark’s.

The long-standing tradition of Formal Hall, held Monday to Thursday nights, is a table-service three course dinner where students and staff wear academic gowns.

Volunteering

Volunteer work and community service give St Mark’s students a chance to look outwards and support the needs of disadvantaged groups or charities.

Volunteering also has many lifelong benefits and teaches effective communication and interpersonal skills, leadership and advocacy skills and teamwork.

Charitable Support

St Mark’s is a caring community where students gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

The student-led Charitable Committee at St Mark’s puts significant time and effort into organising initiatives raise funds and awareness for marginalised or disadvantaged community groups.

The Committee also offers students the chance to support charitable organisations which have a particular meaning to them.

Social Events

The St Mark’s calendar is jam packed with major events and well-planned activities which make College a stimulating, happy and memorable experience for students.

The College Club runs a coordinated, diverse calendar of activities throughout the year which includes sports events, competitions, concerts, plays, dinners, art exhibitions, social gatherings, fundraiser events and fireside chats with guest speakers.

Informal Socialising

College offers constant opportunities to socialise and meet new people which is ideal for students who may be living away from home for the first time.

Formal social events include the annual Ball while informal gatherings may include movie or quiz nights, or a casual game of pool in the Junior Common Room.

Indigenous Students

We are proud to be the chosen college for a number of Aboriginal students who are studying in Adelaide.

We have scholarships available to support Indigenous students, and host events and activities to recognise National Reconciliation Week and celebrate NAIDOC Week.

In 2019, we have our first Indigenous Scholar in Residence, Wiradjuri academic and artist Dr Jessa Rogers.

International Students

We are based in Adelaide, South Australia, but our students are from all around Australia and the world.

Each year, we have a group of international students who are keenly involved in College life.

Two International student support officers on the College Club Committee, and the Dean (who was also once an international student), lead the international student support program.