Learning through residential life
You will be expected to live by the values upon which the college is founded. There might be aspects of residential life with which you may be unfamiliar at first, such as living with other students in one room and living in a community of people from many countries.
The weekly college meeting provides a forum for discussion around issues and themes at the heart of community life. All faculty and students should be present. Although decisions may be made at the college meeting, its role is to share thoughts and ideas and is not that of a democratic decision-making body.
A typical day at UWC Mahindra College
First block: 7:30 am - 8:20 am
Breakfast: 8:20 am - 8:40 am
Second block: 8:40 am - 9:30 am
Third block: 9:35 - 10:25
Double block (first half): 10:30 am - 11:10 am
Break: 11:10 am - 11:20 am
Double block (second half): 11:20 am - 12:00 pm
Fourth block: 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm
Long block: 12:55 pm - 2:10 pm
There are seven days in a school cycle.
Breakfast is from 7.00 am to 8:40 am
Lunch is from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Dinner is from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
On Sunday, brunch is served from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm
Some common college terms
AQ – Academic Quadrangle
block: class
long block: a block that goes on longer than the usual block, for higher level subjects, tests and science experiments
double block: a long block with a break in the middle.
college meeting: the only time the whole college assembles together with the Head of College to discuss any issues concerning college life whether it be academic, residential, or to make any general announcements
advisor group: every student is assigned a faculty advisor
advisor groups generally meet after the college meeting on Mondays and on other occasions for dinners and snacks
noise curfew: the time when the noise level in the wadas should be minimal. It starts at 10:30 pm Sunday to Thursday, and at 12:00am on Friday and Saturday
movement curfew: students must be back in their wadas after 12:30 am on Monday to Thursday and Sundays and 1:00 am on Friday and Saturdays
An overview of the week
Individual academic and Triveni schedules are fine-tuned during orientation. The following schedule is an overview of the week. Depending on the choices of the student, various activities can happen any day of the week.
Monday
The first day of the academic week; class starts at 7:30 am. College meeting at 4:30 pm followed by advisor group meetings. Might have a creative activity to attend. Fairly relaxing in terms of Triveni requirements. The Dukaan (student-run shop) is open throughout the week from 8:30pm to 11:30pm.
Tuesday
Usually the sports day with football, rugby, basketball, swimming and tennis.
Wednesday
Usually Community Interaction (CI) day. The social centre car park will be filled with buses and jeeps ready to leave at 3:00 pm. Some creative activities and Campus Services, such as Website Updating, take place.
Thursday
Usually a CI planning day. A few creative activities later on in the afternoon or evening, like Street Dance.
Friday
Last day of the academic week. Check in at 10:15pm because it is the beginning of the weekend!
Saturday
The day we can return to civilization aka Pune, unless of course, you take Film Studies, in which case you have classes during the weekend. The first bus for Pune leaves at 8:30 am and gets back at around 2:45 pm. The second bus leaves at around 3:00 pm and returns before check in at 9:30 pm.
Sunday
After a busy weekend, students get a lie-in followed by brunch between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. This is the biggest food event of the week because you get the most variety! Yoga in the afternoon.
Otherwise, it is just a normal sleepy Sunday, unless you have work to do, which you will probably start after check-in.
