| Grace College, University of Queensland | ||
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| Full name | ||
| Motto | My Grace is Sufficient |
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| Named after | ||
| Established | 1970 | |
| Principal | Sue Fairley | |
| President | {{{pres}}} | |
| Location | ||
| Residents | 180 | |
| Admission | Female only | |
| Homepage | Alumni Homepage | |
Grace College is an all-female residential college at the St Lucia Campus of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
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Grace is the home of more than 180 female students of the University of Queensland. It accommodates 16 students to each floor with each floor containing its own bathroom, kitchenette and common room complete with television, fridge, sink and microwave. All rooms also have internet and phone supplied and newspapers are delivered to the college daily for free student access.
Fully catered meals are provided in the air-conditioned dining room and students are able to work out in the well-equipped gym facility. Grace also boasts a television room and billiard table and students are able to access washing machines, dryers and photocopiers for small fees. Students also have access to several music rooms complete with pianos and air-conditioning.
The college also contains several large common rooms which are available for functions. The Junior Common Room (JCR) is the largest and is used during Orientation Week for first-years (over 60 people). The Conference Room comes fully equipped with air-conditioning, projector, television, DVD, whiteboard and desks for an estimated 40 people. Finally, the Senior Common Room is used as an air-conditioned meeting room with several lounges around a central coffee table and can hold an estimated 15 people.
In line with University of Queensland policy, students at Grace must maintain a Grade Point Average of 4 in order to continue their residency at the College. Despite this being the minimum requirement, Grace students consistently receive outstanding academic results. The College also has several bursaries which are awarded each year to Grace students who have achieved outstanding academic results.
The Grace College Student Club is an organisation which includes all Grace residents. The Student Club is run by a group of nine third year or above students who form an annual Executive Committee. These students all hold individual roles within the Committee and are responsible for the delivery of social, sporting and cultural activities. The positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Internal Affairs Officer, Sports Convenor, Cultural Convenor, Social Convenor and Inter-College Council Representative (ICC). As members of the Student Club, residents are able to participate in any college activities and must attend both an Overall General Meeting (OGM) and an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year, where student club positions are decided.
Grace College has a long tradition of social involvement amongst the college community. As a member of the inter-college community, Grace both attends and holds social functions. Some Grace functions include: bush dance (O-Week), CeleGRACEtion, At Home, Grace/Kings Regatta, Grace/Kings Boat Cruise, Grace Ball, Thaw Out and Valedictory Dinner.
Sporting traditions at Grace are strong, with a long history of involvement in inter-college competitions. Sports are paid for by the Student Club, making involvement for residents free. Sports available include rowing, swimming, volleyball, hockey, soccer, tennis, athletics, basketball, squash, netball, cricket, Australian rules football, cross country and touch football. Annual sporting awards are presented at the Valedictory and Sports Awards Night.
As with sporting and social events, cultural opportunities are held in co-ordination with other colleges. Residents can be involved in dancefest, choir, one act play, art show, debaing, public speaking, chess, college idol and bandfest. Annual cultural awards are presented at the Valedictory Dinner.
Grace is often commended for its extremely strong community. Both administration and students believe strongly in the combined influences of the Student Club and Residential Assistants in providing residents with a strong sense of college community. Residential Assistants (RAs) are third year or above students who are selected by administration. They are responsible for providing the 16 or more students on their floor with pastoral support and provide a vital link between administration and the student body. The RA body work collaboratively with the Assistant to the Principal.
The Grace College Administration is headed by the current Principal, Sue Fairley. Other members of staff include the Assistant to the Principal, Bursar, Administrative Assistants, Cleaners, Kitchen Staff and Groundsmen. The administrative team work in conjunction with the edicts of the Grace College Council.
The College Council consists of several key contributors to the College. With close ties to the Church, the Council is responsible for overseeing the development of the College in conjunction with the administration and student teams. They are the chief administrative body of the College.
As with most residential colleges, Grace has a long history of strong traditions. The Grace coat of arms depicts a purple cross on a white diamond with a red background and the college motto “My Grace is Sufficient”. The College colour purple is derived from this logo and can often be seen at college events.
Over the years, residents have taken up Greek symbolism, to portray their affection for the college. With the creation of the College magazine residents chose several Greek symbols to portray them. The title of the magazine, ‘Charis’ comes from the Greek word for ‘Graces’; the mythological beings from Greek history. The magazine also introduced the use of the phoenix as a symbol for the Grace spirit. The myth of the phoenix has led to many common college phrases such as ‘out of the ashes’ and ‘fly like the phoenix’.
Grace College, like all other University of Queensland colleges, also participates in the Orientation Week activities organised for first-year students to help them assimilate into University and College life. The Week is organised by an Orientation Week Committee which consists of six second year students. The Student Club Executive Committee and Residential Assistants also participate in this week.
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