Useful Policy Info

Senior Retention

Senior Retention Exercise (SRE)

University Town Residential Colleges offer students a two-year stay under the University Town College Programme (UTCP). The Senior Retention Exercise (SRE) is a process designed to retain senior students who wish to continue contributing meaningfully to college life—both intellectually and communally—after completing their two-year stay under the UTCP.

The College expects SRE students to serve as role models, cultivating a positive and engaged community while using the extended stay as an opportunity for personal and intellectual growth. The Senior Retention Evaluation Committee evaluates applicants on their potential to contribute during their extended stay, using their past contributions as one indicator.

Due to limited places available, only a small number of applicants can be accommodated. As of 15 April 2025, there are approximately 40 places available for Semester 1 of AY25/26, but this is subject to change. If you are seeking accommodation on or near campus for the next academic year, you are strongly encouraged to explore alternative options as a back-up.

If you have already secured another accommodation in NUS and your SRE application is later successful, you may be eligible to transfer your housing deposit internally to the RC4 Housing Services office. Please inform Ms. Tan Si Min (rc4tsm@nus.edu.sg) after the release of SRE results.

Eligibility

The Senior Retention Exercise (SRE) is open only to current RC4 Students and RC4 Alumni who are in Year 2 or above.

Applicants may apply for Semester 1 and/or Semester 2 of AY2025/26 during the current application window (16 April to 4 May 2025). Please note that a second application window may not open unless there is a strong need. Therefore, applicants who are intending to stay in Semester 2 are strongly encouraged to apply during this window.

Terms and Conditions (Minimum Commitment Requirements)

Successful applicants must commit to fulfilling the Minimum Commitment Requirement upon accepting their SRE offer. Given the limited number of places, students who are unsure of meeting these requirements are strongly encouraged not to apply, so as to allow more deserving candidates the opportunity to stay.

All successful SRE students are required to enrol in and complete the 2 Units CS/CU course UTC3700: Residential College 4 Senior Projects during each semester of their stay.

UTC3700 is a parent course with evolving child courses across semesters. For example, a student enrolling in Semester 1 would register for UTC3700A, and for subsequent semesters: UTC3700B, UTC3700C, UTC3700D, accordingly.

1.1. UTC3700: Residential College 4 Senior Projects

This project-based course allows senior students to apply and extend interdisciplinary skills gained through their UTCP experience. The nature of the project may be academic, social, or a ground-up project aimed at creating a positive impact, but always with clear intended learning outcomes that supports personal and professional growth. Students work in teams under the mentorship of College Fellows, engaging in projects that require innovative, critical, and creative problem-solving. Each semester concludes with a showcase to the broader RC4 community, highlighting the project’s impact and student readiness for a complex global environment.

1.2. How to Enrol for UTC3700?

Senior Retention students will enrol in UTC3700 in groups. The Director of Student Life will reach out to successful applicants before the start of the semester with enrolment details and a list of mentors. For enquiries, please contact Dr. Naviyn at rc4npb@nus.edu.sg.

1.3. Important Notes on UTC3700

I. Students offered a place for both semesters will receive a confirmed offer for Semester 1 and a conditional offer for Semester 2. Semester 2 stay will be confirmed only upon successful completion of UTC3700 in Semester 1. Failure to pass UTC3700 in Semester 1 will result in the withdrawal of the Semester 2 offer.

II. Students interested in taking a regular 4 Units RC4 UTCP course to fulfil University Level Requirements may write to Ms. Tan Si Min (rc4box2@nus.edu.sg). Priority will be given to students who have not completed UTCP. If successful, such students may be exempted from UTC3700 for that semester.

III. Final-year students in their last semester before graduation may be exempted from UTC3700 if they have completed the course (at least once) in a prior semester.

Other Terms and Conditions

a) Senior retention students may not be allocated to the same houses as during their initial stay. They should be open, mature, and adaptable to this change. As senior residents, they are expected to serve as peer mentors and role models for junior students on their residential levels.

b) RC4 students currently in Year 2 or Year 3 applying for the Resident Assistant (RA) position must also apply for SRE if they wish to stay in RC4 regardless of their RA application outcome.

c) If a current senior RC4 student (who will be in Year 3 or 4 in AY2025/26) is elected (note: co-opted members are not eligible) to the College Students’ Committee (CSC), they will be allowed to stay in RC4 until the end of their CSC term. Should they resign or step down from the CSC, continued stay will depend on whether they had applied for SRE and their ranking in the selection. Students who did not apply for SRE or whose SRE rank is low may be required to vacate the College.

d) All SRE applicants should attend the mandatory briefing conducted by Director of Student Life for the applications to be processed further. There will be two briefings after the closure of application – you need to attend one of the briefings. Ms. Tan Si Min will communicate the details of briefing after the application window closes.

Evaluation Process and Evaluation Criteria

The Senior Retention Evaluation Committee evaluates applicants on their potential to contribute during their extended stay, using their past contributions as one indicator.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on two main dimensions:

1: Contributions, Conduct, and Track Record (70% weightage)

This dimension evaluates:
• Breadth of contributions: Diversity and range of involvement during the applicant's stay
• Depth of contributions: Quality and impact of the applicant’s efforts
• Conduct and teamwork: General behaviour, professionalism, and ability to work with others
• Track record of task/project completion: Demonstrated responsibility and follow-through, which help gauge future contribution potential

Note: There is a misconception that there exists a point system for SRE evaluation, which is not true. SRE evaluations are not based on the number of contributions per se. The quality and depth of engagement, proven track record of successful completion of tasks, conduct and ability to work together as a team matter significantly.

2: Mini Proposal for a New Project or Idea (30% weightage)

Applicants are required to submit a proposal for a new idea or project that could benefit the RC4 community or beyond. The proposed initiative can be academic, social, or a ground-up project aimed at creating a positive impact. It should be original and distinct from existing Interest Groups (IGs), pods, or annual projects.

Important: We hope that the proposal you submitted will develop into your UTC3700 project, but note that this may not necessarily be so, as UTC3700 projects will be decided collaboratively with peers and mentors after SRE acceptance. You should submit your own idea rather than jointly with other SRE applicants.

The proposal will be evaluated based on:
• Innovativeness of the proposed idea or project
• Impact on the RC4 community
• Impact beyond RC4/NUS (e.g., wider societal relevance)
• Feasibility of implementation within a semester

Evaluation Committee and Process

The Senior Retention Evaluation Committee consists of five College Fellows (Dr. Lynette, Dr. Sreenivas, Dr. Cindy, Dr. Corinne), chaired by the Director of Student Life (Dr. Naviyn). The committee will also consult Resident Fellows, Resident Assistants, CSC members, and House Heads to verify applicants’ contributions, conduct, and track record.

Evaluation Process for Dimension 1 (Contributions)

1. Contributions submitted by applicants will first be verified by the College Office using data from the Student Life Participation Record (maintained by the CSC under College Office supervision).

2. Additional verification will be sought from relevant Resident Fellows, House Heads, Resident Assistants and CSC (if applicable). Feedback from the respective Resident Fellows and Resident Assistants on the applicant’s role in shaping a positive community culture will also be considered.

3. After verification, each applicant's contributions will be individually evaluated by three members of the Senior Retention Committee using the established criteria.

Evaluation Process for Dimension 2 (Mini Proposal)

• Each Mini Proposal will be independently evaluated by two committee members using the listed evaluation criteria.

Consolidation and ranking:

The rating and recommendations from individual committee members will be consolidated, normalized, and weighted by the Director of Student Life (Committee Chair) to generate an overall ranking of applicants.

Note: Senior Retention offers will be made based on this overall ranking and the number of places available in the College, subject to final approval by the College Master. Due to limited availability, some deserving candidates may be placed on a ranked waitlist. These applicants may be offered a place as vacancies arise throughout the academic year.

Important Notes

1. The SRE results are offered in multiple rounds during vacation (sometimes even during semester) as and when vacancy arises. So, if you did not get in round 1, you are placed in waitlist and you will hear from us when your turn comes.
2. SRE and Honour Roll are different: Please understand that there is NO connection between Honour Roll Award and Senior Retention Offer, as both are different in their own ways.

Link to Application Form

Application Deadline and Results Release Period

Stop the clock policy

"Stop the Clock" Policy at Residential College 4 (RC4)

Students admitted to RC4 as freshmen are normally given two years of residence with an expectation to fulfil the University Town College Program (UTCP) curriculum comprising of 4 + 1 courses. NUS students normally go overseas on Student Exchange Program (SEP) through Global Relations Office (GRO) or NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) from year 2 onwards. Hence, freshmen intake students who go overseas on the SEP/NOC during year 2 will not be able to complete their UTCP curriculum. We "stop the clock" for the freshmen intake students who go overseas on the SEP/NOC during their second year to help them complete the 4 + 1 courses in the UTCP curriculum while continuing their active participation in the college life. When a student comes back to college after SEP/NOC, we resume the clock again for a period equivalent to the student's involvement in the SEP/NOC (for example, if a student heads to SEP/NOC for 1 semester in year 2, the student will get a chance to stay for 1 semester in year 3). Thus, a student who leaves the college halfway due to SEP/NOC will resume his/her stay in the college through "stop the clock" policy to complete 4 + 1 courses in the UTCP curriculum, and participate actively in the college activities.

Eligibility check to "Stop the Clock":

College "Stops the Clock" only if the student meets/fulfils the following requirements:

1. must be admitted as a freshman who acquired two years residence;
2. must have stayed at least 1 year in the college (Sem 1 and Sem 2 during Y1);
3. must have completed at least two UTCP courses during his/her year 1 stay in the college (if the candidate is applying to "stop the clock" in the second semester of his/her academic year 2 stay, he/she must have completed at least three UTCP courses in the first 3 semesters);
4. must ensure that he/she will be able to complete all the pending courses* needed for completion of UTCP curriculum during his/her resumed stay period in the college;
5. must submit a completed application form to the college (along with relevant supporting documents from his/her home faculty/GRO as evidence of approval of SEP/NOC) as soon as the student gets confirmation on SEP/NOC.

Note: Submitting an application form does not mean that the clock is stopped; the decision is subject to approval by the College.
*Number of pending courses will be "number of courses required for completion of UTCP curriculum (which is 4+1)" minus "number of college courses completed before embarking the SEP/NOC". For example, if a student has completed 3 courses before his/her SEP/NOC, number of pending courses that he/she has to complete will be 4+1-3 = 2.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

FAQ 1: Does Stop the clock policy apply to RC4 students from non‐modular faculties (like Medicine/ Nursing/ Dentistry/ Law/ Pharmacy-AY23/24 Cohort onwards)?
Answer: This policy does not apply to students from non‐modular faculties and Pharmacy as they will not complete the UTCP curriculum.

FAQ 2: I am intending to do an SEP during my first year. Will stop the clock policy apply to me?
Answer: Students are expected to complete at least 2 semesters in NUS before they go for SEP/NOC. Hence, the college's stop the clock policy will apply to those who go on for SEP/NOC in year 2 only.

FAQ 3: If I go on for SEP/NOC and come back to college through stop the clock policy, can I still apply for senior retention exercise?
Answer: Students who come back to college through stop the clock policy are eligible to apply for senior retention exercise. Only thing they have to note (while applying for senior retention) is that they should have recently completed or should be at the verge of completing their 2 years of stay in the college.