r. Frederick Burwick proudly shows off Hedrick Hall to visitors as though it is his castle. His desk is even adorned with the rather regal nameplate “Frederick of Hedrick,” a gift from some former Hedrick residents. For the past seven years Dr. Burwick has made this UCLA residence hall his home — and become one of the most beloved and energetic faculty residents on campus — through the Faculty in Residence (FIR) program.
Begun in 1966, the FIR program (www.orl.ucla.edu) gives students a unique opportunity to relate to faculty members on a more personal level than is typically possible in the classroom. It has become an essential component of the Office of Residential Life’s (ORL) mission to make campus

living more supportive, academically inspired and community-oriented for UCLA students. In exchange for room and board, resident faculty members maintain an average of 12 resident contact hours per week, develop and implement at least one program per quarter, and provide informal academic counseling when necessary.

From Driving to Directing
Dr. Burwick moved into Hedrick after years of arduous commuting and was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed the new lifestyle. “I love living in the residence hall and interacting with the students, and I often ask myself why I didn’t do it earlier,” he says, adding, “I’m constantly amazed by how wonderful and talented these young people are.”

been named Distinguished Scholar by both the British Academy and the Keats-Shelley Association.
At Hedrick Dr. Burwick leads quarterly Fiat Lux seminars on various literary topics and conducts term paper workshops aimed at incoming

He became a member of the UCLA faculty forty years ago after earning his Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Wisconsin. His scholarly focus is on late 18th and 19th century British literature and theatrical performance, and he has

freshmen. In addition, he directs a historical revival play each year — a major undertaking involving a cast and crew of 40 students and more than 100 hours of rehearsal time.