What is a Living Learning Community?
A Living Learning Community is a residence hall community designed to bring together students with similar goals and interests, enabling them to build connections in and out of the classroom. Students live in a common area, enroll in classes together, and participate in activities which provide opportunities to grow and learn beyond the classroom.

Why should I live in a Living Learning Community?
Living Learning Communities are a great way to connect with other students and build friendships before classes even begin. These communities provide a support network of peers and staff to help you out when you need a hand. Living Learning Communities will enhance your college career, expose you to new ideas, and help you prepare for life after college.

What Living Learning Communities are available in 2012–2013?
Business Living Learning Community: a partnership with the Williamson College of Business Administration
The Emerging Leader Community: a residential branch of the campus-wide Emerging Leader Program.
Fine Arts Appreciation Community: a partnership with the Dana School of Music
GPS Living Learning Community: cultural experience

The Well Community (Wellness, Education, Living & Learning): a partnership with the Department of Campus Recreation and Student Programming

How do I apply?

• Apply for admission and be accepted to Youngstown State University: http://web.ysu.edu/gen/ysu/Apply_to_YSU_m140.html
• Apply to live in University Housing
  Housing rates, guidelines, and application materials are available at:
  http://housing.ysu.edu/
• Submit a completed Living Learning Community Application, also available at:
  http://housing.ysu.edu/

CLICK HERE for an application!

June 1, 2012 is the final date application materials will be accepted.  However, only 40 students will be accepted into each community, so the earlier you submit your information the greater your chances of securing your space.

For more information on Living Learning Communities at Youngstown State University, please contact:
Jacqueline Robertson, Assistant Director
Office of Housing & Residence Life
Phone 330-941-3582
Fax 330-941-2715
Email jrrobertson@ysu.edu

The Business Living Learning Community
The Williamson College of Business Administration and the Office of Housing & Residence Life are excited to announce the creation of the Business Living Learning Community (BLLC) at Youngstown State University.  The BLLC will offer freshman business majors * a cohesive academic experience, uniting class learning with out-of-class networking and support.

Students accepted into the BLLC will live together in a newly renovated space in Kilcawley House and enroll in the same sections of several Business tool courses.  BLLC student schedules will include the following courses:

In addition to fulfilling foundation coursework toward a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree, BLLC students will be connected with other students interested in business.  Living side-by-side will enable BLLC students to have the best of both worlds:  study groups, review sessions, and idea generation combined with time to socialize and become friends with other YSU students.  Connecting with peers will enhance the student experience at YSU well beyond the freshman year.

In addition to the applications steps required for all living learning communities, BLLC applicants must also complete the placement tests in math and English:  www.ysu.edu/cbpt

°  Due to course requirements, students must place into ENGL 1550,    Writing I, and MATH 1548, College Business Math I

*  Freshmen interested in majoring in business are classified as pre-business, pre-accounting, pre-finance, pre-management, pre-marketing, or pre-business economics.

Emerging Leader Community:
The Emerging Leader Community is a residential branch of the campus-wide Emerging Leader Program. The goal of the program is to give students an opportunity to become an emerging leader of tomorrow while living in a community of other leaders. Not only will students live in a community with peers, but will also take classes with each other and work with one another in a variety of leadership activities and initiatives. It’s a fantastic opportunity to not only grow as a leader but also to develop a support network of friends and professional contacts to help students succeed here at YSU. By bringing together experienced, involved students with those new to YSU, the Emerging Leader Community has strengthened ties and encouraged collaboration across a variety of interests and involvements.

2008-2009 was the first year this community was opened to first year and returning students alike. By bringing together experienced, involved students with those new to YSU, the Emerging Leader Community has strengthened ties and encouraged collaboration across a variety of interests and involvements.

Benefits of the Program

• Learn more about yourself and the community around you.
• Meet (and live with) new friends who will help you become a stronger leader.
• Live in a newly renovated space in Kilcawley House.
• Develop leadership abilities by engaging in new and exciting experiences.
• Receive a certificate, notation on your transcript, pin, and cords for you to wear when you graduate from YSU!
  
  

Fine Arts Appreciation Community:
Program Overview
The Fine Arts Appreciation Community, housed in a newly renovated space in Kilcawley House, brings together students who have an interest or are majoring in any of the arts: vocal or instrumental performance, music education, theater, photography, visual arts, and the like. The FAAC, a joint project of the Dana School of Music and the Office of Housing & Residence Life, has been created to help residents make connections with other students who share their passion for the arts. Students in this community will play an active role in the cultural community at YSU, and develop their own talents in a creative, supportive environment.

Specific Components
Features of the Fine Arts Appreciation Community include:

• In house private sound proof music practice rooms
• Close proximity to Bliss Hall, the center for campus fine & performing arts
• Attendance of university music and theater performances
• Participation in FAAC talent showcase
• Interaction with fine arts faculty & visiting artists

The Flight Student Athlete Experience
It could be argued that just as “impossible” as it is for Penguins to fly, it is equally impossible for student-athletes to achieve high levels of wellness, become engaged in the campus community, and develop their identity based on more than their performance and participation in athletics. With this challenge in mind, “The Flight” Living Learning Community has been designed specifically to encourage incoming student-athletes to go above and beyond athletic demands and focus on their overall wellness and growth. All student-athletes will complete an orientation, six wellness workshops, and participate in the Penguin Challenge. In addition, some student-athletes may be selected to be assigned a mentor who will provide additional support.
Benefits of Participation:

Access to study tables in the residence halls once approved by assigned Athletic Academic Advisor Additional assistance assigning tutors and academic support Monthly wellness workshops, including team-builders and speakers, specifically designed to meet your needs Opportunity to develop relationships and a cohort with incoming student-athletes in various settings Opportunity to have a campus mentor! Free t-shirt!!!

Gaining Personal Success
Members of the Gaining Personal Success (GPS) program will learn how to reflect on their relationships with self, significant others and the world around them. The students will also be able to assess their values of self and others, eventually make decisions for themselves, and fully actualize their potential. GPS students should be interested in exploring cultures outside their own, have respect for different cultural values and an enthusiasm for living and learning on campus.

Members of the GPS program will learn to:

• Develop skills in effective cross-cultural communication
• Actively and intelligently converse on issues regarding lifestyles, beliefs, regional trends, etc.
• Contribute through service to the university and the surrounding Youngstown community

Proposed activities include:

• Group sharing and discussions
• Outdoor activities
• Film nights
• Presentations on world cultures
• Explore international & local music and dance
• Visits to cultural sites and cultural events
• Explorations of religious celebrations
• Host dinners with faculty or guests discussing professional and personal goals, travel, and personal experiences
• Workshops on intercultural communication and teamwork

The International Living Learning Community
Designed specifically to encourage students from diverse backgrounds and academic interests to come together in a setting that promotes intercultural understanding and communication, the International Living Learning Community(ILLC) provides incoming international students the opportunity to remain living within an environment that is supportive and caring of individual wellness and growth while adapting to a new culture.

Each student will help shape the ILLC by suggesting both local as well as international issues and topics of personal interest.

Benefits of Participation Include:

• Opportunities to socialize at formal dances and dinners
• Attend fun outings and organized trips
  
• Live in a comforting and supportive environment, surrounded by students of other nationalities
  
• Being assigned an American mentor to aid your cultural adaption
  
• Attend monthly meetings and programs geared towards mental and emotional wellbeing and fulfillment
  
• Access to resources and initiatives created by an international student, for international students, including translators and a counselor just to name a few
• Free ILLC t-shirt

The STEM Living Learning Community
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics and the Office of Housing & Residence Life are excited to announce the creation of the STEM Living Learning Community (SLLC) at Youngstown State University.  The SLLC will offer freshman STEM majors a cohesive academic experience, uniting class learning with out-of-class networking and support.

Students accepted into the SLLC will live together in a newly renovated space in Kilcawley House and enroll in some of the same sections of several STEM foundation courses.  In addition to fulfilling foundation coursework toward one of the Bachelor degrees, SLLC students will be connected with other students interested in the STEM areas.  Living side-by-side will enable SLLC students to have the best of both worlds:  study groups, review sessions, and idea generation combined with time to socialize and become friends with other YSU students. Connecting with peers will enhance the student experience at YSU well beyond the freshman year.

Benefits of participation:

• Learn more about yourself and the community around you.
• Live in a newly renovated space
• Dinners with STEM faculty
• Guidance beyond your academic advising to improve your out-of-classroom experience
• Résumé-building opportunities
• Leadership and mentorship opportunities
• Networking opportunities

The WELL Community (Wellness, Education, Living & Learning):
Program Overview
The WELL Community, housed in a newly renovated space in Kilcawley House, is a joint project of the Office of Housing & Residence Life and the Department of Campus Recreation and Student Programming. WELL brings together students who are interested in personal wellness and healthy lifestyles, creating an atmosphere supportive of a well-rounded academic experience. WELL’s location adjacent to the Wellness Center provides students quick and easy access to the many offerings of this facility: an expansive cardio and weight training area, an indoor track, aerobics studios, a climbing wall, the Wellness Resource Center, and much more. In addition to access to these facilities, WELL students will be educated on a variety of wellness topics, preparing them to make healthy choices in college and beyond.

Specific Components
Features of the WELL Community include:

• Personal Fitness Assessments
• One on one meetings with a Nutritionist
• Participation in the Campus Recreation Challenge Program
• Monthly Community Meetings & Activities
• Attending campus sporting and cultural events