What is a Living-Learning Community?
The living-learning community was one of the topics that I covered during an interview with Dr. Cynthia Colon, host of Destination YOUniversity. No matter the size of the college, there will usually be more than one on campus. Rutgers, for example, has more than 70.
So, what does a living-learning community do?
- Helps a large school feel smaller and less intimidating to an incoming freshman.
- Gathers students around a common interest. Rutgers, for example, has a WeatherWatcher living-learning community for budding broadcasters and meteorologists.
- Helps students to study together. It’s easier to succeed in a rigorous engineering or nursing program with the help of friends, faculty and tutors close by. The more help you have, the better your grades are likely to be.
- Exposes students to thought leaders among the faculty, alumni and more
- It sometimes provides an honors-level academic experience.
How can you find out about a living-learning community at a college?
Living arrangements such as a living-learning community are talked up heavily during campus tours and open houses. They impress parents more than prospective students. Imagine a parent’s thoughts about residence halls. The more amenities that you see in a residence hall, the more likely you will believe that students do not study as much as you hope they would. But when you set foot in a living-learning community, you are also likely to see dedicated study spaces or common areas to work and complete projects. You might also see announcements for tutoring sessions.
Membership in a living-learning community is voluntary. Most are not like an honors college where you must maintain a high GPA to stay in. You reap the benefits for as long as you maintain good academic standing. Those benefits, including better study skills and grades, stay with you after you leave.
Want to know more about me? Check out these podcasts!
Listen to my talk, College Is A Learning AND Living Community, hosted by Dr. Cynthia Colon from Destination YOUniversity on Voice of America Radio!
Listen to my talk, What Exactly Is a Good College? hosted by test-prep experts Amy Seeley and Mike Bergin on Tests And The Rest!
