Da Vinci: The Biological and Life Sciences Learning Community
Founded as the Biological and Life Sciences Community, Da Vinci, located in Lee Hall, is an interactive-learning environment designed to help students succeed in first-year science courses including general chemistry and principles of biology. Students majoring in Animal and Poultry Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Dairy Science, Food Science, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, and in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are eligible to apply for admission to this community. This community will be part of a larger community called inVenTs, which will include two freshman engineering communities and two science communities.
All participants live together, forming a creative environment for group studying and social interaction. All members will be enrolled in a one-credit hour seminar each semester that will focus on college success skills and life science careers. Members will also enroll in a General Chemistry lecture and lab and Principles of Biology lecture.
Statement of Purpose:
- To allow students to build on one another’s academic strengths in order to succeed in their first-year experience.
- To give students the opportunity to become exposed to each life science field and major.
- To learn survival and success skills for further education and occupation.
- To better enable students to interact with faculty and professionals.
For questions about the Da Vinci: The Biological and Life Sciences Community program, contact Lori Blanc, lblanc@vt.edu. For questions related to housing assignments, please contact Housing and Residence Life at housing@vt.edu.
[ Apply for theme housing ] Note: As of May 5, 2013, all the female rooms in Da Vinci have been filled. New female applicants will be placed on a waiting list for the 2013-14 academic year.
Comments from former Da Vinci members:
"The high school days are over, but it doesn’t mean you have to be alone. The people you will meet in the BLSC will become not only your educational peers, but, in many cases, your greatest friends. The community will create memories for you that you won't be able to imagine life without. It was the greatest decision I had ever made and will be yours as well."
"It’s wonderful to live with so many people who share my interests. After the first hike, I had already made lots of friends. It helped me academically because I can just walk down the hall and get help when I need it. It’s a lot of fun to live in the BLSC and a good way to transition into college life."
"The BLSC helped me to find many great people who have the same interests as I do. The seminar brought organization to my otherwise chaotic college life."
"When choosing a college, the thing that worried me about Virginia Tech was the size. I didn’t want to fall through the cracks. The BLSC put me in a position to do well. It made campus smaller. I live with students who share the same major, giving us a heads-up on other students to have to ’fend for themselves.’ I have found friends who have the same goals as I do—to succeed!"
