Living Learning Communities foster forever bonds

Living Learning Communities foster forever bonds

Ballard Hall can be a place to learn about the healthy and friendly rivalry between the East Carolina University Air Force ROTC and Army ROTC programs.

Cadets from both units live in the Joint Army/Air Force ROTC Living Learning Community, providing many opportunities for them to help each other while mixing in chances for friendly competitions and jabs.

"We'll be friends, but we'll also have little jokes going," said Sean Townes, a freshman who is in Air Force ROTC and is studying business administration.

The Air Force and Army ROTC programs are both part of the College of Health and Human Performance. Their joint LLC opened last year.

There are 658 active students spread across 16 living learning communities for this academic year, representing more than 10% of the students living on campus. Other learning community examples include the Honors College, music community, education community, and art and design community.

"An LLC gives you a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow together, because you are all going through the same things," said Mason Potts, a nursing major who is in Army ROTC and one of the returners to the joint ROTC LLC. "The LLC is where I made some of my best friends, and I couldn't be more grateful for that."

Students who are in the same LLC take one or two classes together, they are invited to special programs and events that are tailored to their interests, and they have greater access to faculty and university staff outside of the classroom.

Kyra Smith is an LLC resident adviser and exercise physiology major. Part of her role before classes began Aug. 19 was to walk with students in her hall to campus events such as Pirate Palooza and Raid the Rec, especially to make freshmen feel as comfortable as possible. Smith said she was excited to implement music into her resident programming options this year.

LLCs were created to help students embrace ECU in smaller, more personal groups. They can assist in the academic transition to university instruction and encourage positive student connections within ECU Campus Living.

"If they have certain classes together it can help, because if one is struggling, they can connect and study together," Smith said. "It's nice to see when neighbors are there to help each other out."

Research generally shows that students in an LLC have an easier transition to the university, are more likely to academically succeed from year-to-year, and have higher overall graduation rates, according to Chase Wheaton, assistant director for living learning/thematic communities and student success in campus living.

Cary Ann Reeves, administrative support associate for the ROTC programs who helps oversee the ROTC LLC, said she has noticed that LLCs are very coordinated, and programming is often organized and enjoyed by residents. Most of the cadets in this year's ROTC LLC are freshmen.

"The ones who have been here in an LLC love it," said Reeves, who quickly gained the "mom of the dorm" nickname among cadets. "They always have a buddy who is around and they are taken care of, and I think they feel a sense of home and belonging."

Fellow cadets helped Townes move in his belongings in mid-August. Townes felt comfort in already knowing his roommate, a high school friend from Charlotte, and he looked forward to being with other cadets in an LLC.

"The fact that we are in this shared space can only grow the bond," he said. "I hope to know everybody on my floor by the end of the year. Being in a shared space definitely builds on that camaraderie. You know somebody not just from the classroom, but also from the amount of time we'll spend together."

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