Category Archives: Living-Learning Communities

Find Your Community: LGBTQ+ & Allies Housing at Millersville University

As we enter the month of June, the celebration of Pride Month has begun. During this time, awareness of the queer community is heightened, and an extra strong sense of community is present. Here at Millersville University, this feeling exists all the time due to our LGBTQ+ & Allies affinity housing. Although this is most popular with first-year students, all class years are accepted that are interested in exploring identities, history, and social advocacy.  

Living here means collaborating with faculty and staff in bi-monthly meetings, connecting with like-minded peers, and fostering a community built on mutual respect, understanding, and affirmation. Through guided discussions, we’ll delve into the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ history, social movements, culture, health, and personal experiences. 

Residents will also have opportunities to engage with local LGBTQ+ organizations through trips and community service initiatives. This community offers a brave space where students can authentically express themselves, learn, and grow together. 

Applications for this housing are accepted all year round until there is no space left. If you are interested in completing a form, please click on the link below: 

https://www.millersville.edu/housing/llc-special-interest/lbgtq-allies.php 

If you would like additional information or have questions, please reach out to Chad Baker by phone (717-871-7644), or email (Chad.Baker@millersville.edu). 

Join a Campus Living-Learning Community

A living-learning community (LLC) is a group of students who live together in the same residence hall building and share similar academic or special interests. Intentionally designed cocurricular learning activities are provided for the students to foster student engagement with their peers.

Here are some of our goals with LLC’s:

  • Increase students’ peer interactions related to academics outside the classroom
  • Deepen students’ social integration into the university
  • Connect students to cocurricular opportunities that will enhance their academic experiences

Research on LLC’s illustrates the following:

  • Students in LLCs perceive a stronger intellectual dimension to their living environment and perform better academically even after controlling for pre-college achievement.
  • Students living in LLCs vs. traditional halls show a statistically higher level of academic self-confidence and scored higher in confidence in college success (i.e., math, English, writing courses, and test-taking skills).
  • LLCs can have a lasting effect on student persistence and gains in disciplinary and general knowledge.
  • Levels of academic engagement reported by LLC participants is greater than their non-participating peers

Works cited:

Inkelas, K. K., & Soldner, M. (2011). Undergraduate Living-Learning Programs and Student Outcomes. In J.C. Smart & M.B. Paulsen (Eds.), Higher education: Handbook of theory (pp. 1-55). Netherlands: Springer.

Schroeder, C.C. & Mable, P. (Eds.). (1994). Realizing the educational potential of residence halls. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Millersville’s Living Learning Communities:
Honors College

This program is designed to provide a challenging and enriching education for talented and motivated students. Throughout your journey at Millersville, the Honors College will provide academic guidance and opportunities, which will prepare you to prosper in graduate/professional schools or in the professional world.

“The Honors College LLC in South Village helps Honors students build friendships and connections with their peers. Living among other students who you attend class, clubs, community service, and other events with creates a strong sense of community. Many students utilize the various common areas in South to study together, work on group projects, or to just hang out. I’ve met so many great people by simply hanging out in the lounge while doing my homework!” says Michael Skros, an Honors College Peer Mentor.

Click HERE to apply!

Women in STEM

The Women in STEM LLC empowers young women in STEM fields to learn and grow in a supportive, collaborative, engaging environment that is designed to promote life-long confidence and camaraderie while also exploring and excelling in their courses. You will receive regular peer and faculty mentorship. Amanda McKee, a student in the Women in STEM LLC says the following about her experience living there: “The Women in STEM LLC has really helped me with my confidence within my STEM major. Being able to connect with other women who are going through a similar experience was a great way to start my college experience. This LLC is a great way to broaden your knowledge of careers after you graduate.”

You will gain skills such as leadership, confidence, networking, awareness of the interdisciplinary connections within STEM fields. Additionally, you will gain exposure to those already working in the field and develop camaraderie with other young women pursuing a career in STEM fields. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the community is filled.

Click HERE to apply!

Social Advocacy

This program empowers students to be aware of cultural and social diversity within our society. You will be surrounded by fellow students who are enthusiastic about advocacy, equality, social justice, and social inclusion. You will gain skills such as increased self-awareness, knowledge of rights, effective communication, leadership, networking, and the ability to work in diverse environments. Today’s graduates need to effectively serve the communities in which they live and work, while being good global citizens. Sarah Perales, a student living in the community, says, “Being a part of the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community has given me a unique and memorable college experience with lots of opportunities to get engaged on campus and in the local community. I have been able to make strong connections with students to make lasting friendships and make strong connections with faculty to gain support throughout my academic career.”

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the community is filled.

Click HERE to apply!

ROTC

The ROTC LLC provides students the opportunity to live in a community with other students who are interested in military service from the first day they arrive on campus. While living in the ROTC LLC, students will be exposed to resources, skill-building and current members of the Millersville ROTC program. The LLC will facilitate contact with ROTC student leaders, ROTC faculty and staff, and military professionals. Formal and informal professional development opportunities will help students learn about military service opportunities. The LLC will provide a basis for a supportive student network that will benefit students while at Millersville and after graduation.

Applicants must be enrolled in a Military Science course to live in this community and will be accepted on a space availability until it is filled.

Click HERE to apply!

LGBTQ+ & Allies

Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally? Then our LGBTQ+ & Allies affinity housing might just be for you. This immersive community is developed for first-year students interested in learning about LGBTQ+ identities, history and social advocacy. When you live here, you’ll work alongside faculty and staff in bi-monthly meetings to engage with other like-minded students who are interested in LGBTQ+ related issues or shared identities to build a community based on mutual respect, understanding, and affirmation.

We will also intentionally learn about the history of LGBTQ+ identities, social movements, culture, health and others lived experiences through guided discussions. Student living in this community will be able to participate in trips and community service opportunities with local LGBTQ+ organizations. This community will provide a brave-space for students to show up authentically, learn and grow from one another!

Click HERE to apply!

___________________________________________________________________________

Lydia Shaloka is a senior Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing at Millersville University. Her interests include digital marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing.  Graduating in May 2021, Lydia hopes to work for a digital marketing agency either in or near her hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Subscribe to our blog to receive email notifications whenever we make a new post!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @villehousing. Twitter QR Code:

Instagram: @villehousing. Instagram Nametag:

Fall 2019 Success for Social Advocacy LLC

Fifteen students majoring in psychology, social work, sociology / anthropology, and business have participated in the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community throughout Fall 2019.  The Social Advocacy LLC program empowers students to be aware of cultural and social diversity within our society. They are surrounded by fellow students who are enthusiastic about advocacy, equality, social justice, and social inclusion. The students in the program gain skills such as increased self-awareness, knowledge of rights, effective communication, leadership, networking, and the ability to work in diverse environments. The program is made possible by successful partnerships between the Department of Housing & Residential Programs and the Social Work and Psychology academic departments.

The students have accumulated over 427 hours through their participation in various activities, including attendance at education programs, LLC bi-weekly meetings, and participation in service projects. Housing scholarships totaling $30,000 will be awarded to the 15 students in the program who successfully met various participation and service requirements.

Educational programs included:

  • Day-long Leadership Summit
  • Courageous Conversations
  • Documentary and Dialogue Series
  • Breast-A-Ville
  • Project Condom
  • Poverty Simulation

Service projects included:

  • United Way Day of Caring
  • Otter Creek Cleanup
  • Food distribution to homeless in downtown Lancaster City
  • PrideFest
  • Multicultural Showcase

Social Advocacy LLC students were also involved in various clubs and organization on campus, including Alliance for Social Change, Food Recovery Network, Circle K, The Snapper, and Helping Paws.  Finally, during a screening of the documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect, the program students created and displayed an expressive arts exhibit to offer insight into internal struggles one with mental illness may experience, as well as offer messages of hope and encouragement to others who may be struggling.

The Department of Housing & Residential Programs is very proud of the Social Advocacy Living-Learning Community and very thankful for our faculty partners leading this highly impactful LLC, including Drs. Karen Rice, Kat Walsh, and Shaun Cook.