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First Year Explorations

Living and Learning Communities

Living and Learning communities are intentional and structured opportunities for students and faculty to learn in collaborative and interactive environments both in and outside of the classroom. In a living and learning community, students reside together on the same floor/wing of a residence hall with students of similar interest. Research has shown that students that are living with or in close proximity to their peers, tend to be more successful, feel integrated into the college, and have a higher level of satisfaction. For the upcoming academic year, we are pleased to offer the following living & learning communities for our first year students:

For students who are interested in being a part of one of these communities, please indicate in the appropriate area on the Housing Preference Form, available online at https://apps.lynchburg.edu/campus/system/public/reslife/housingpreferenceform.asp, by June 30.

Athletic Training (1st and 2nd Floor Shackelford Hall)

This community is centered on the interests and course loads of first-year Athletic Training students. Participants of this community will have the opportunity to develop study groups within the residence hall, participate in activities and programs related to the athletic training field, and create a cohesive cohort with students who have similar goals and interests. In addition, participants in this community will have the opportunity to interact with a faculty liaison and gain from the experience and knowledge of an upper-class Resident Assistant majoring in a similar field.

Spiritual Diversity and Service Learning Community (2S and 2L Montgomery Hall)

As part of Lynchburg College's "Year of Diversity," this community is centered on the interests of first-year students who have a desire to explore a variety of spiritual and religious traditions while engaging in diverse community service experiences. Participants of this community will have the opportunity to participate in activities and programs related to multi-faith exploration and volunteerism. Activities may include visits to local religious sites such as area churches, Jewish synagogue, Muslim mosque, Buddhist meditation center, interfaith yoga shrine, etc. The members of this learning community will be enrolled in the same English composition (ENGL111-112) class which focuses on readings and writings about multi-faith and spirituality literature and will complement the community service activities of the program.

In addition, participants of this community will have the opportunity to interact with a group of upperclass students and a staff advisor from the "Spirituality and Service" special interest house, who will serve as peer advisors and mentors, meeting informally with the freshmen on a regular basis and participating in many of the outings and community service activities.

ABOVE (1st Floor Hundley Hall)

"ABOVE" Learning Community - an outdoor recreation and leadership development living and learning community program that focuses on outdoor recreation both in and out of the classroom. Students in "ABOVE" (Above and Beyond Orientation Value Experiences) will be part of an outdoor recreation and early orientation program that combines wilderness experiences with both a health and physical education class (HPE 109) and a freshman English composition (ENGL111-112) class. The HPE class focuses on instruction and problem-solving activities which involve participation, success, equity, and trust with emphasis on challenges that develop fitness. The freshman English composition class focuses on readings and writings about environmental literature and will complement the outdoor adventure activities of the program. Students selected to be in this program will participate in a pre-semester program in August that includes challenge course participation, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, camp craft, and caving. In addition to the faculty and staff liaisons, the ABOVE Program students will have a Resident Assistant with similar outdoor interests. For more information, please check out the ABOVE website at http://www.lynchburg.edu/above.

Nursing (5E Tate Hall)

This community is centered on the interests and course loads of first-year nursing students. Participants of this community will have the opportunity to develop study groups within the residence hall, participate in activities and programs related to the medical field, and create a cohesive cohort with students who have similar goals and interests. Programs and activities may include field trips to the hospital, blood pressure lessons, and socials with the Nursing Student Association. In addition, participants of this community will have the opportunity to interact with a faculty liaison and gain from the experience and knowledge of an upper-class Resident Assistant majoring in a similar field.

Westover Honors (4th and 5th Short Montgomery Hall)

This community is reserved for students already enrolled in the Westover Honors program with Dr. Ed DeClair.