Living Learning Community Proposal
Living Learning Communities (LLCs) have long been recognized as a best practice within higher education and academia, to support student learning and to deepen belonging for residential students. LLCs are seen as collaborative environments in which living and learning meet outside of the classroom, and are defined as “environments in which more intellectual interaction can occur among students, faculty and staff with whom students interact” (Hurd and Stein, 2004, p. 3).
At CU Boulder, LLCs are cohorts of students that live and learn together around a specific topical area. LLCs have eligibility requirements to live in the community, and LLC offerings are both academic and theme based. Some LLCs offer classes, and others have co-curricular experiences built into the residential experience. Additionally, LLCs at CU Boulder are created with a sustainable collaborative structure shared between a department/college and Student Affairs. Costs associated with each LLC are provided by the department and/or college submitting the proposal and from the First Year Experience (FYE) at CU Boulder, at no additional cost to the student.
Join us for listening sessions!
Learn more about the LLC proposal process and get your questions answered.
- Feb. 11 at 9-9:50 a.m. | Join via Zoom
- Feb. 25 at 11-11:50 a.m. | Join via Zoom
- Mar. 14 at 11-11:50 a.m. | CASE W313
Background of Residential Learning at CU Boulder
Integration with faculty and learning within the residential experience has a long history at CU Boulder, when the first Residential Academic Program (RAP) was launched in partnership with students within Sewall Hall in 1971. Since that time, RAPs have continued as residential offerings, and have expanded their reach to include integration with multiple colleges across the university. However, since RAPs were built structurally with an additional cost to students, moving forward, the university has invested in supporting residential communities that do not require additional student fees for their participation.
In spring 2021, Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education collaboratively formed the First Year Experience (FYE) Advisory Board. The FYE Advisory Board strives to enhance the first-year experience to create better access for all first-year students. The FYE Advisory Board also reviews all submitted Living Learning Community proposals.
LLCs are seen as a desired structure to ensure all incoming first-year students have access to participate in a residential community that engages students through activities, academic support structures, and events that will help students build a strong connection to CU Boulder.
Requirements for LLC Structure
There are a number of definitions and structures for living learning communities utilized across colleges and universities. Please see definition utilization, structure and development requirements below:
- For one shared understanding of how to build an LLC, utilize Hurd and Stein as a common definition of living learning communities. Please see Hurd and Stein chapter on LLC development and structures.
- The LLC community should be supported by a college/department through resources, staffing, funding, etc. This will ensure a meaningful community with a sustainable structure. Financial and resource structure should be provided by the proposing college/department with supplemental support through FYE.
- LLCs must have a bifurcated structure including both college/department oversight and support from residence hall staff. This ensures a collaborative relationship.
- Each LLC should have an LLC administrator designated by the proposing college/ department. This role should have robust integration with residence hall staff. The two roles should not be enmeshed, but work in unison to support the student experience.
- Communities should include a strong residential co-curricular student experience. The addition of academic courses should also be considered whenever possible.
- Goals and objectives are determined collaboratively and must be measurable and learning based. This will allow for future learning based assessment.
- Curriculum is connected whenever possible to the residential experience, ResX. The co-curricular experience should also provide both in classroom components and residential learning and student engagement opportunities.
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion exists in decision making and leadership structures.
- Student involvement and voice is considered within the LLC proposal, design and structure.
LLC Goals
Consider the unique subject area or focus of your LLC and discuss how your community will strive to accomplish these goals required of all LLCs at CU Boulder.
- LLCs provide students with a sense of belonging in a community of their peers united by a common interest.
- LLCs support students’ intellectual, personal and social growth by providing them with opportunities to learn in a collaborative, engaging environment.
- LLCs work to integrate students’ academic, social and residential experiences, providing a seamless learning environment in which students develop “connected knowing” outside of the classroom on disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects.
- LLCs challenge students to test their skills/knowledge through applications, experiences, reflection and synthesis outside the classroom. Examples of this include intellectual discussions, trips, projects, speakers and events.
- LLCs provide opportunities for faculty and staff to engage in university service and student mentoring in intentional mentorship with students outside of the classroom in their field of interest or discipline.
LLC Syllabus Creation
If your proposal is supported by the FYE Advisory Board, you will later be asked to construct a sample syllabus for your community. Keep in mind the following:
- The syllabus should showcase the importance of community, collaboration, linking theory with practice, reflection/synthesis and curricular connections.
- The syllabus should tie any texts, programs, events or discussions back to the general LLC goals or to your specific LLCs objectives.
- Include your ideas for LLC projects, suggested texts or reading materials, expectations of community members and a calendar of events.
- A course connection to the LLC is highly suggested. Please consider the timeline for submitting new courses to the registrar in decision making for course linkage.
- A draft budget proposal will be expected should the initial LLC proposal be approved. Consider identifying existing resources and other collaborative and sustainable funding sources through your college or department.
- Make sure to consult the Residential Experience (ResX) guide (contact residence life to receive a copy), university cultural events and academic calendars, as well as relevant academic college colloquia and events.
Submit a Proposal
Please follow the steps below to complete a proposal.
Step 2
Download and complete an LLC Expense and Funding proposal
In addition to the LLC proposal, please fill out the expense and funding proposal.
Step 3
Submit materials!
Submit completed materials to Laura Arroyo, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Transitions and Academic Partnerships.