Research Intro

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) have been gaining popularity on University campuses over the last 20 years. While I did not have the option to fully join a Living Learning Community, my residence hall, Cawthon, is made up of roughly 80% LLC residents (University Housing). There are two LLCs housed in Cawthon: Music and Women in Math, Science and Engineering (WIMSE). Even living in the non-LLC portion of Cawthon, one can be fully immersed into the Living Learning Community lifestyle. My friends all belong to LLCs, I’ve sat in on colloquiums and seen how a community can be developed from an LLC. Being surrounded by two LLCs has prompted me to continue researching the formation, success and the academic and social impact that a Living Learning Community has on a student. In this essay, I will examine if LLC students are more academically and socially successful than their non-LLC counterparts and ask why? Through much research, and sitting down for an interview with Dr. William Parker, the exploratory-LLC coordinator for Bryan Hall, I have learned an ample amount of information that proves why LLCs are continually successful.