livinglearning

Living-learning, or living-learning communities (LLCs), comprises higher-education programs that deliberately integrate on-campus housing with academic and social experiences to enhance learning beyond the traditional classroom. By aligning residence life with curricular activities, LLCs aim to boost engagement, belonging, and success.

Typical LLCs organize housing into themed or cohort-based communities aligned with majors, disciplines, or student interests. They commonly include faculty or staff in residence, linked seminars, co-curricular programming, mentorship, and integrated advising. Participants may join service projects, research opportunities, or international experiences connected to the theme.

Outcomes are mixed but often positive, with improvements in retention, GPA, or engagement reported for first-year students and targeted groups. Effectiveness depends on program design, size, and campus context.

Originating in North America in the late 20th century, LLCs have spread across four-year colleges and universities and are used under various labels, including living-learning communities or themed housing, reflecting differences in scope and emphasis.

Variants span honors, STEM, arts and humanities, global or intercultural studies, service-learning, sustainability, and health professions. Some programs use faculty-in-residence models, shared syllabi, and multi-year cohorts to deepen ongoing collaboration between housing and academics.

Criticism focuses on resource intensity, space constraints, and concerns about equitable access or clustering by major or identity, underscoring the need for thoughtful design and rigorous assessment.

Overall, living-learning programs seek to integrate living and learning to support student development through intentional design and community building.