Create a Living-Learning Community
The program should include the following components:
- Mission
A formal summary of the aims and values of a group or organization.
- Learning Outcomes/Objectives
A statement of expectation that articulates what students will know, do or think/feel as a result of participation in the program, activity, interaction. It specifies how learning will be assessed, and documents the results of assessment and how those results will be used to improve learning.
Objectives should identify a learning outcome - The objective needs to state what the learner is to perform, not how the learner learns. Evidence of whether the learner has learned the material lies not in watching her read about it but in listening to her explain the principles in her own words.
- Goals:
A desired result with a plan of action. A goal should be one of the steps taken to reach the learning outcomes/objectives. As living and learning programs are constantly evolving, each group should have well-defined short and long term goals, as well as, a plan of action to accomplish the desired results.
- Advisory Council
With respect to developing and sustaining a living and learning community, it is essential to establish a group of stakeholder representatives who will strive toward the global outcomes and goals of the program. Members should include faculty or senior member in a department, leadership members of HRL including the Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) and student representatives. This group is responsible for ensuring continued success of the program from year to year. In addition, this group should determine assessment, implementation, planning and evaluation of the program.
- Participants
Determine the desired number of resident participation, selection process and leadership needs. In addition to the Advisory Council, each program should determine the organizational model that will be needed to ensure a successful implementation, including graduate student assistance, program coordinators, mentors, etc.
- Program Expectations
Methods to hold students accountable to fulfill program expectations, as well as, create avenues for students to provide feedback for leadership team and board members
- Academic Initiatives
Academic department, course(s) or supplemental academic components associated with the community, course correlate to the other aspects of the community.
- In-Community Leadership Team
How will the program run (organizational team structure, board of director's model, etc)?
- Application and Evaluation
Recruitment and selection process for potential participants, as well as placement, roommate criteria, etc.
- Financing
Determine what funding is needed for the successful implementation of the living learning program including, but not limited to, programming, recruitment, mentors, graduate level coordinator, honorarium, etc.
- Program Longevity
What tools do you have in place to ensure longevity and sustainability of the program?