The role of learning communities

Learning Communities are groups of students residing in the same residential area, interacting academically and socially with each other and with faculty, and sharing the same academic major, program or interest.

Learning communities play an important role in the new residential campus model by serving as an example of how a union of academic and residential goals is already being met by the university and by emphasizing the need for university commitment (in financial support, advisor support, and facilities) if success is to be achieved.

Learning communities associated with student residences offer many opportunities for formal and informal, structured and spontaneous learning. Perhaps most importantly residential learning communities have the potential to greatly enhance the academic environment at Elon.

Some communities may be located near each other in the same building or neighborhood if housing is appropriate. Housing should include a mixture of suites, doubles, and individual rooms in order to attract students from all four classes.

Some learning communities may require special housing. For instance, the Arts and Letters community prefers the idiosyncratic Trollinger House, and the Sustainable Living community may ultimately want separate green quarters that allow experimentation and monitoring.

Learning communities will need the same mixture of social, study, class, and computer space that all residences will require. These include kitchen and meeting space; flexible space that can be changed by students to suit specific needs; activity, performance, and interest space where students will naturally meet and interact with other students and with faculty.

Residential Learning Communities 2009-2010

  • Deutsches Haus – The Colonnades Building A
  • La Casa Italiana – The Colonnades Building A
  • La Maison Francaise – The Colonnades Bldng A
  • Japanese House – The Colonnades Building A
  • Sustainable Living- The Colonnades Building B
  • LSB Business- The Colonnades Building A
  • Arts & Letters – Trollinger House & Staley 1st Floor
  • Casa de Espanol – The Colonnades A
  • Service Learning Community – Staley Hall 1st Floor
  • Communications- Sloan Hall 1st Floor
  • Elon College Fellows – Danieley Center N
  • Fine Arts – Virginia Hall 1st Floor
  • Health and Wellness – Hook Hall 2nd & 3rd floor
  • Honors Floor – Virginia Hall 3rd Floor
  • Honors Pavilion – Academic Village
  • International Pavilion – Academic Village
  • Math, Science & Engineering – Virginia 2nd Floor