About Living-Learning Communities
Living, Learning, Becoming... you.
Maybe you're a dreamer. Maybe you're a doer. Maybe you are a little of both. Regardless, once you've decided to attend the University of Illinois, you'll want your living arrangement to match your goals and ambitions—who you are, and who you hope to become.
That's where the Living-Learning Communities come in. These seven programs are located in the University Residence Halls and are designed to give you the chance to become part of a unique experience, with programs and facilities to support the interests of the community members.
As a member of a Living-Learning Community, you'll have the chance to really get to know your instructors and develop strong friendships with your fellow students. Residents have access to many special resources, programs and activities, such as freshman orientation, seminars, tutors, mentoring programs, and smaller classes or reserved space in regular courses. In fact, many residence halls have classroom space located just a few steps from student rooms.
View the full listing of Spring 2010 LLC Courses
View the full listing of Fall 2009 LLC courses
This community is intended to challenge and motivate students whose interests, experiences, and aspirations have a strong international component, including students planning international majors/minors, interested in international internships, study abroad or international work or service. Global Crossroads opened in Fall 2000 and accommodates about 110 students on two floors in Saunders Hall, Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls. The community includes students from countries all around the world, and includes degree-seeking, transfer and exchange students. Global Crossroads is an excellent environment for international students to experience the United States college culture.
The program staff include a faculty director, program coordinator, hall director, and resident advisors who assist with the development of on-site courses and specially designed programs and activities emphasizing cross-cultural interaction with both intellectual and social dimensions.
The community provides access to international cable channels and international publications. The hall remains open during University breaks (Thanksgiving, winter and spring).
The new Health Professions Living-Learning Community brings together students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, physical or occupational therapy, and related professions in a dynamic, engaging environment. This residential community combines elements to foster exploration of working with traditionally underserved populations (urban, disadvantaged, rural, elderly, and international) through courses, programming, services, and connections to campus and community resources. This community will accommodate approximately 110 students on two floors in Oglesby Hall.
Health Sciences programming and support services help residents gain valuable experience with faculty and staff in their chosen fields of study, even while making progress on general education requirements. Residents experience extensive relevant volunteer and community service opportunities as they prepare to contribute to society as future health professionals.
Students electing to reassign to this new living-learning community will be asked to submit an essay to confirm their placement. If you have any questions about this living-learning community, please feel free to contact Kari Schueller at Schuellk@illinois.edu.
Innovation LLC is a new living-learning community that welcomes students from all majors who share an entrepreneurial spirit. Students who thrive on invention, creative problem-solving, and fostering positive change in the world will feel at home in this inclusive community. Located on one floor in the Illinois Street Residence Halls, Innovation LLC features The Garage, a fully equipped workshop where individuals and teams can collaborate, develop ideas, and put their plans into action. Innovation residents also benefit from access to special courses, guest speakers, and resources to bring their ideas to reality. If you have any questions about this new community, please contact Marc Goldman at lmgoldma@illinois.edu.
Whether your major is business, biology, sociology, or architecture, being able to engage with others of diverse backgrounds is an asset that doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. With this in mind, Intersections opened in 2004 to provide 120 students with a living experience where they could find deeper ways to talk about race and culture, more fully understand different life experiences and points of view, and learn to live in a diverse community.
Students have the opportunity to enroll in on-site courses focusing on cultural diversity and to participate in programs planned by students, faculty and staff, and outside guests. Program staff members include a program coordinator, hall director, resident advisors, and multicultural advocates. This community is located in Babcock Hall in the Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls (PAR).
This community is designed to provide students with a residential experience based on the Illinois philosophy of leadership that focuses on self-development, communication skills, project and program effectiveness, and group dynamics. The program helps students identify, develop and practice their leadership skills.
The community opened in Fall 2000 and is located on the 2nd floor of Garner Hall in the Gregory Drive Area. The approximately 140 students share opportunities to enroll in courses, and participate in programs planned by students, faculty and staff, and outside professionals. Program staff include a program coordinator, hall director and resident advisors.
Students interested in LEADS do not need to have held a formal leadership role in any organization. Participation is encouraged from any student who wishes to be part of an energetic community committed to making a difference.
Unit One, in Allen Residence Hall , provides a small-college environment with an intellectually and personally challenging atmosphere in a strong community setting. Unit One was established in 1971 and now has 650 residents whose majors, general interests, and academic abilities reflect those of the University's undergraduate population.
Unit One features about 80 credit-granting courses, private music lessons, a host of workshops, field trips, volunteer activities, academic support, and about six guests-in-residence per year who live in Allen during one- or two-week visits. Staff includes a director, assistant director, student advisors, regular faculty, and teaching assistants who all have office space in the hall.
Weston Hall, in the Peabody Drive Area, is home to the Exploration Living-Learning Community. Weston Exploration opened in Fall 1997 with the mission to bring together classroom and living experiences to provide opportunities for students to discover areas of interest and abilities and how they relate to academic majors and careers. Students entering Liberal Arts and Sciences General Curriculum may find Weston Exploration a particularly supportive and stimulating environment in which to begin their Illinois experience. Weston students from all majors can utilize the resources to identify and prepare for careers.
Approximately 475 students are members of the Exploration community. Program staff include a program coordinator, hall director, resident advisors, academic advisors, counselors, and career counselors who all work on-site to provide classes, individual and small group activities designed to help students learn about themselves and campus resources.
An additional fee is added to the room and board rate to support the special programs and activities.
The WIMSE community was established in Fall 1996 to provide a supportive environment for undergraduate female students in a mathematics, science or engineering curriculum. The community has expanded since 1996 and is now home to approximately 135 students in Trelease Hall, Florida Avenue Residence Halls. WIMSE provides an active academic and social network designed to ease student transition to the university and facilitate student academic success.
Program staff include a program coordinator, hall director, resident advisors, and tutors. WIMSE students have a computer lab on each floor, a resource center, on-site courses, and seats held in high-demand courses in their curricula. Students interact with faculty and professionals as part of the WIMSE dinner series, and participate in a variety of activities to increase awareness of campus resources, including research and internship opportunities.