Residential Learning Communities & Theme Houses

Residential Learning Communities (RLC)

RLCs are small groups of students who live together on designated houses or floors. Students share academic interests, classes, living spaces and develop friendships as part of an innovative program in cooperative learning. As such, most RLCs are limited to students in certain majors.

RLCs are an excellent way to make friends and enhance your academic success. Additional benefits include:

• Developing academic and social support systems quickly
• The opportunity to have more collaborative interactions with others on campus (students and faculty may seem more approachable)
• Living with others who share your academic interests makes learning more fun and creates opportunities to extend the learning outside the classroom through study group formation, informal conversations and programming activities
• Many learning community programs hire upper-class students who are familiar with the curriculum and who serve as mentors to students
• Research shows that learning community students graduate from the university at higher rates than non- learning community students

Not all academic programs offer RLCs. Non-Residential Learning Communities offer many of the same benefits as RLCs with the exception of students living in close proximity to each other. Students may live in different houses, buildings or even off-campus. Their points of connection result from in class and out-of-class activities sponsored by the learning community coordinators. New students interested in joining a non-residential will have the opportunity to do so during Orientation.

Refer to the Learning Communities Website for more detailed information about learning communities including college contacts, mentor information, and research reports.

Theme Houses

Theme houses provide opportunities for students with common interests to live together and pursue those interests through organized programs and activities. While there are no academic or major requirements, ROTC Theme Houses requires military affiliation and Cross Cultural Theme House requires residents to live with a roommate from a different country.