This year, West Texas A&M University residence halls have academically-based living learning communities that are connected to specific majors to celebrate students’ interests above and beyond their academic pursuits. In a living learning community, students are surrounded in their residence hall by other students with similar interests based on major.
Students who participate in the living learning communities live in the same residence halls and enroll in two or three of the same classes with others in their residence halls. The communities are designed to enable one to build a unique community around a common theme, experience an enhancement of classroom learning and connect to students and faculty with shared interest.
This is the second year WT has introduced the living learning communities, and they are housed in Cross Hall, Jones Hall and Founders Hall. Living learning communities that were presented this year relate to Education majors seeking EC-6 ESL certification, Athletic Training majors, Pre-Nursing majors, Health Science majors, Communication Disorders majors and Sports and Exercise Science majors.
“I’m an RA here at Cross Hall, and I have a living learning community group for Pre-Nursing majors on the east wing of the floor I’m responsible of,” Audrey Aguayo, Residential Assistant for Cross Hall, said. “I can instantly tell that the girls on the east wing have fostered and cultivated close friendships amongst each other.”
Aguayo said students who participate in a living learning community are more likely to be engaged on campus within their majors.
“The more engaged and involved you are, the better a college experience will be socially and academically,” Aguayo said.
Transition to from high school to college life can present different challenges, so many current freshmen have found living in a learning community very helpful when it comes to balancing out the new experience.
“Choosing to live in a living learning community is something I won’t ever regret doing,” Emily Resendez, Freshman Pre-Nursing major said. “Not only do my roommate and I have about 3 classes together, but we have created such a close bond between us. We talk to almost every girl in our wing living in a learning community.”
Resendez said they all meet up together to study since they are in multiple classes together.
“It truly has been very beneficial because not only have I made tons of friends but also can also ask for help on my academic work when needed, you always have someone around,” Resendez said.
Living learning communities can offer many possibilities for students who participate in them and understand what the realities of such a program are and what will be expected of those participating.
