ABAC’s Office of Student Affairs is creating Living Learning Communities (LLCs) for incoming first-year students living on campus. The LLCs will incorporate mentorships and peer support that will focus on academic and social skillsets, communication practices, leadership, empathy, community engagement, and relationship building.
ABAC Housing has a long track record of hosting LLCs over the last decade, in Lakeside, the typical first-year student dorm; however, this new model will be the first that the LLCs will be hosted outside of the typical freshmen dorms.
Measures of success will include:
- Academic Performance: Students in LLCs often have higher GPAs and better retention rates compared to non-LLC students.
- Retention and Graduation Rates: LLCs contribute to higher retention and graduation rates. Students in these communities are more likely to stay
- Surveying students to measure:
- Connections: LLC students report feeling more connected to their peers and faculty, which enhances their overall college experience
- Engagement: Participation in LLCs is linked to increased student engagement both inside and outside the classroom. This includes more active participation in courses and a greater sense of community
Residence Life, part of Student Affairs, planned to host roughly 150 first-year students at ABAC Place. Three Living-Learning Communities of 50 students each were developed for Fall 2024, and were ran as a small test pilot.
Of the three communities that were planned, only two of them were needed and are currently in progress.
Additional information and data will be made available at the conclusion
A programming calendar for these students will be set during Resident Assistant Training and all participant attendance data will be tracked. For Fall 2025, ResLife plans to host one LLC for roughly 40 first-year students. These students will live at ABAC Place. The LLC is offered five program/event opportunities. Two of the events are academic, two are social, and one is an off-campus event.
Challenges:
- Resource limitations that include funding, enough dedicated staff, and physical space.
- Engagement, as not all students may be equally engaged and not participate fully.
- Balancing the ability to cater to diverse student needs
- Scaling up without losing the essence of community
Supports: A shared LLC Best Practices from the various USG sectors from successful programs may aid in producing favorable results
