Living-Learning Communities
Introduction
Why settle for ordinary? Living-learning communities (LLC) offer unique living and learning opportunities to campus residents. Research shows LLC students have higher cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) and increased interaction with faculty. At Virginia Tech, we offer four types of living-learning communities so that you can choose the best fit for you. Take some time to learn how participation in a living-learning community can change your life.
What are they?
Academic Major Learning Community:
Academic major learning communities focus on introducing students to a particular major or academic discipline and offer strategies for success in difficult first-year courses. Participants are primarily first-year students, in addition to a limited number of upperclassmen serving as mentors within the community.
Interactive-learning environment designed to promote academic success and engagement with the scientific process and community. Students majoring in the physical and quantitative sciences in the College of Science are eligible to be residents.
Focus on issues that engineers face in the growing competitive marketplace and is a program for first-year and first-time male engineering students.
Brings together female first-year and first-time engineering students in a residential environment to provide encouragement and support in pursuing a career in engineering
Enhanced-Learning Community:
Enhanced-learning communities explore a specific area of interest (e.g., service learning, leadership) through academic courses and co-curricular experiences. These communities are open to students of any academic major. While The Wing is restricted to first-year students only, all other enhanced-learning communities are open to all students.
With so many majors to choose from, it's common to have trouble deciding which career options will best suit you. REACH is a living-learning community designed to bring together first-year students like you as you embark on the journey of career exploration. So take advantage of this unique opportunity to live and study together as you learn more about the opportunities that await you at Virginia Tech.
The Thrive living-learning community is designed to provide first-year students with an opportunity to build community, develop relationships, and actively engage in programs that will enhance their first-year experience at Virginia Tech and help them stay motivated throughout their time at the university.
One- or two- year program focused on academic leadership studies and development program maintained through a collaborative effort of the Division of Student Affairs, the University Honors Program, and the Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Agriculture and Extension Education
Three-year, live-in residential honors program for students who have demonstrated superior academic ability based upon a review of Honors applications
Whose mission is to graduate leaders of character who are imbued with the concept of service
Residential Colleges:
A residential college is modeled on residential experiences made famous by Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and Yale and Princeton in the United States. Many colleges and universities are using residential colleges to strengthen a sense of community among students and bridge students’ academic and social lives. At Virginia Tech, residential colleges are “multigenerational” and “multidisciplinary,” thus first-year, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students, from all academic backgrounds living together. The residential college is led by a live-in faculty member called a Faculty Principal, and a Student Life Coordinator from the Division of Student Affairs, as well as a host of faculty and staff “fellows,” who mentor students. Members of the residential college are expected to participate heavily in governance, budget management, event planning, and student conduct. Curious and engaged students will love living in a residential college. Students may elect to live in the residential college for as many as four years.
The Honors Residential College (HRC) is a community of faculty, staff, and students who share a deep intellectual curiosity. This program offers freshman through senior-level university honors students and graduate students a “multigenerational” and “multidisciplinary,” opportunity to capitalize on the rich history and tradition of Virginia Tech while living and learning with faculty and students in a unique and intentional environment. The HRC is led by two live-in faculty principals and is supported by over thirty faculty, staff, and community members. The Honors Residential College is available to any university honors student regardless of major.
To be considered, students must enter the Honors application process and select the Honors Residential College in addition to signing a housing/dining contract to live on campus. Freshman applicants must also make a two-year housing commitment for the Honors Residential College to encourage a strong continuing community.
The Residential College at West Ambler Johnston (RC@WAJ) is open to all students regardless of major, year, or honors status.
The Residential College at West Ambler Johnston is a community of 830 students ranging from first-year to graduate students from all academic disciplines. The RC@WAJ consists of four “houses” of roughly 200 students. Each house helps make the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston a place where every students finds a sense of belonging and friendship. Once admitted to the RC@WAJ, students are randomly assigned to one of the four houses with which they will be associated for as long as they live in the residential college. Each house has a leadership structure called a “house council” which contributes to the larger student governance body called the “Residential College Council.” Opportunities to be involved are abundant and all students are expected to be actively engaged citizens of the community.
Themed Housing:
Themed housing offers an opportunity for students with a similar interest (e.g., substance-free housing, international-themed domestic housing) to live together in the residence hall. Residents are encouraged to create a community by engaging in shared activities that support common interests. These programs are open to freshman through senior-level students.
A unique living experience for both international and domestic students designed to foster community as well as provide a home-away-from-home during university break periods
Residents foster an environment where you can successfully live a substance-free lifestyle, which means free of smoke, alcohol, and tobacco
18 buildings that house fraternities and sororities at the edge of the Virginia Tech campus
