The Perceived Benefits of Participation in Living and Learning Communities: The Student Perspective

Students\u27 experiences outside the classroom are important to their overall growth and development. Living learning communities (LLC) play a big role in helping to support these areas of growth. Students residing in an LLC are aware of the benefits of the LLC experience and can articulate how their residential environment can help them develop. Non-LLC members find it difficult to define the LLC experience and are not receiving the same benefits. Institutions and residence life often struggle in evaluating and assessing these communities because of the lack of direction and outcomes not clearly being stated. If institutions work to clearly define and create outcomes for evaluation, students, faculty, and staff have a better understanding for the LLC experience. Clear definitions also help in marketing the LLCs. Special focus needs to be given toward developing clear definitions of the LLC experience to better support and assess the needs perceived by the students