Living-learning communities help students feel at home on campus

It can sometimes be difficult for students to find a place on campus where they feel like they fit in. For freshmen in particular, finding community can be one of the biggest challenges of their first few months of college. 

Living-learning communities (LLCs), where students with similar interests or goals live together in an environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth, can help make that transition easier. These programs can enhance a student’s college experience — in the residence hall and beyond.  

A research brief published by the Council of Independent Colleges in 2015 found that living-learning communities are associated with positive impacts to students’ academic performance, campus life, intellectual development, psychosocial development and self-efficacy. This brief also found that when compared to students in traditional college housing, students participating in LLCs have a smoother transition to college and report higher levels of informal faculty mentorship, peer interaction and co-curricular involvement.  

“It's an environment that's conducive to their success here,” said Ellasen Elroumy ’22, director of Residence Life and Housing. "It puts them around like-minded folks that can motivate them.” 

Before starting college, Jude Thompson Howard ’28 was under the impression that he probably wouldn’t get to know the people living on his floor very well. He’s noticed that while that is the case for some students, it’s different for him because he joined an LLC. He’s in Health and Helping Opportunities (H2O), a community on campus that is focused on helping others, typically through the lens of public health and health services. 

“Where I live specifically, being in that little community, I’m close with about 90% of the people on my floor. I’ve managed to make a lot of new friends and learn a bunch of new things about other people,” he said.   

This experience has made the transition to dorm life more comfortable, he said. Students in H2O, like many living-learning communities, often host their own movie nights, cook meals together and study together, especially around finals season.  

These types of connections exemplify the benefits of a living-learning community. H2O, which is primarily meant for first-year students, had a great retention rate last year, said Shannon Anderson, professor and advisor of the LLC.  

“Being connected to something makes freshman year so much easier,” she said. 

Roanoke is proud to house a variety of LLCs on campus that focus on a range of interests. In most LLCs, students will take at least one class together that is related to the community’s core values. This serves to further strengthen the sense of connection that students in LLCs have with their peers. 

For LLCs like Mosaic, the community for LGBTQ+ students and their allies, these yearly courses serve another purpose as well. From queer religiosity to the sociology of identity, the topics of Mosaic’s courses are meant to either reflect the experiences of students in the community or introduce them to something new, said Sarah Murray, assistant professor and advisor for Mosaic.  

“Part of the ethos of Mosaic House is that we are trying to legitimize and really value LGBTQ+ identities,” she said. “Affirming that queer lives and queer culture is worthy of study is an important element of that.” 

The qualifications and application processes to join each living-learning community vary. Continue reading to learn more about the LLCs at Roanoke and visit the college’s LLC webpage for more details on each community. Students interested in joining an LLC for the upcoming academic year should complete the interest form by mid-June. 

Flourish 

Located on the third floor of Ritter Hall, Flourish is a community centered around wellness. It encourages students to explore their strengths and grow in all areas of wellness — physical, mental, emotional and beyond. For more information, reach out to Associate Director of Student Wellness Donovan Hill at donohill@roanoke.edu. 

Global Village

Global Village is located on the second and third floors of Chalmers Hall. This living-learning community houses both international students and U.S. students who are interested in learning more about other countries and cultures. Special programming through Global Village includes holiday celebrations, trips, international dinners, film nights and more. For more information, contact International Student Services Director Sarah Lupton at lupton@roanoke.edu.  

H2O (Health and Helping Opportunities) 

H2O is for first-year students with an interest in entering into a human-service field after college. Students in this LLC discover how they can use their unique skillsets and experiences to help their community. Several representatives from LewisGale Medical Center, one of the LLC’s sponsors, come to speak to students each semester. For more information, contact Shannon Anderson at slanderson@roanoke.edu. 

Honors 

Students currently in the Honors Program can join the Honors Academic Residential Community, located on the first and second floors of Maxey Hall. This community cultivates a unique academic-focused living environment where students can socialize and study together. For more information, contact Skip Brenzovich, director of the Honors Program, at brenzovich@roanoke.edu.  

Mosaic House 

Mosaic exists to foster a sense of community, well-being and belonging among LGBTQ+ students and allies. The community, located in Maxey Hall, helps students develop knowledge of LGBTQ+ histories, identities, culture and politics, while also allowing them to explore and practice contemporary models of social justice organizing, service and action. For more information, contact Sarah Murray at murray@roanoke.edu. 

Multicultural 

This living-learning community intentionally cultivates an environment in which various races and ethnicities are represented, allowing students to live and learn in a multicultural setting. Residents are required to participate in co-curricular experiences that raise awareness about the impact of race and racism on individual identities, social inequalities and more. For more information, contact Student Success at studentsuccess@roanoke.edu.  

Scholars 

Located on the second floor of Beamer Hall, Scholars House provides a supportive environment for academically minded students. Students in this community receive additional mentoring from faculty members and are expected to adopt a service organization in Salem or Roanoke. For more information, contact Travis Carter, associate professor and director of experiential learning, at experience@roanoke.edu.