Living Learning Communities
WKU Living Learning Communities
In a WKU Living Learning Community (LLC), students with similar academic or social interests live together on a residence hall floor and participate in activities tailored to their specific majors or interests.
LLCs are designed to help you connect socially, succeed academically, engage with WKU faculty, staff, and administrators, and chart your course at WKU.
Although each LLC has unique opportunities, they all share the same vital purpose and goal: nurturing and developing a prosperous Hilltopper student to become engaged with other students and faculty throughout our campus.
*There is no additional cost for a Living Learning Community. However, some LLCs require students to register for specific classes; please refer to the individual LLC descriptions for additional requirements.
Living Learning Communities for Academic Majors/Disciplines
The Agriculture Living Learning Community gathers students in the WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering, majoring in the agriculture disciplines, and facilitates an open support system via strategic programming, service, and other opportunities.
In the Agriculture LLC, you will live with other agriculture students on the same floor in a residence hall, take at least one course together in the fall semester, and participate in Agriculture LLC exclusive events throughout your freshmen year.
Participating in the Agriculture LLC is a great way to get to know other students, faculty, and staff in the agriculture disciplines.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Business Living Learning Community is specifically designed for first-year students studying one of the business disciplines.
In the Business LLC, you will enroll in three specific courses during your fall semester:
- BA 175 University Experience for Business Students,
- CIS 141 Basic Computer Literacy, and
- COMM 145 Fundamentals of Public Speaking & Communication.
All three courses satisfy General Education requirements and Business major admission courses.
You will also benefit from mentoring by Gordon Ford College of Business faculty and staff through the Business LLC.
Thanks to the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Gail Broady, there is no additional cost for students to enroll in the Gordon Ford College of Business Living Learning Communities.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
Are you interested in learning more about Social Justice and how you can be involved? Do you want to become more politically engaged, to better understand the processes of democratic participation? If so, join your peers in sharing diverse ideas on these topics and more through the Citizenship & Social Justice Living Learning Community.
In this LLC, you will enroll in two courses for the fall semester:
- CSJ 200 Introduction to Social Justice, and
- PS 110 American National Government.
In the spring semester, you will enroll in the CSJ course Reimagining Citizenship.
All courses satisfy General Education requirements.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
Are you drawn to dramas which portray crime and offending? Do you enjoy podcasts and documentaries which describe violence and victimization? As a college student interested in these topics, you are in a great position to begin learning about the authenticity of reality crime programming and the truth behind true crime media.
In the Crime and Popular Culture Living Learning Community, you will live on the same residence hall floor with other students interested in criminology and have a chance to share these interests in a way which deepens your awareness of and appreciation for justice.
Together, you will engage in shared classroom experiences and programming in your residence hall, and benefit from the opportunity to interact with upper level student mentors studying the broad field of criminology.
LLC participants will enroll in:
- CRIM 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice during the fall semester, and
- CRIM 234: Crime and Popular Culture during the spring semester.
Both courses satisfy General Education requirements and Criminology major requirements.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Top of the Class Living Learning Community is for first year students enrolled in the School of Teacher Education.
All students majoring in education are welcome: elementary, special education, middle grades, or secondary.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Engineering Living Learning Community provides a residential environment that fosters peer networking and academic success for students who are majoring in Engineering through the Ogden College of Science and Engineering.
In the Engineering LLC, you will live with other Engineering students on the same floor in a residence hall, take an Engineering University Experience course together, and participate in Engineering LLC exclusive events throughout your freshmen year.
Participating in the Engineering LLC is a great way to get to know other students, faculty, and staff in your discipline.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Nursing Living Learning Community provides a residential community for peer networking, selective tutoring, mentoring and strategic programming for students who plan to enter the nursing program at WKU. This LLC is limited to students with a Pre-Nursing major designation.
You will enroll in the following courses during the fall semester:
- BIO 207: General Microbiology, and
- CHEM 109: Chemistry for Health Science.
During the spring semester, you will enroll in:
- NURS 102: Introduction to Professional Nursing, and
- BIO 131: Human Anatomy & Physiology I.
All four courses are required courses for the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Pre-Health Professionals Living Learning Community is for any student interested in a pre-health professional program (ex. pre-medicine, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-chiropractic, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, etc.) within the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. Pre-nursing students are encouraged to consider the Nursing LLC.
In this LLC, you will live on the same floor in a residence hall with other pre-health discipline students and you will enroll in UC 176 University Experience for Pre-Health Professionals.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Social Work Living Learning Community is focused on engaging first-year students interested in the profession of social work.
The Social Work LLC will offer a supportive and engaging environment through the use of mentoring, service learning, and other educational opportunities.
In this LLC, you will live on the same floor of a residence hall with other students studying social work and you will expand your personal and professional network to include community-based social workers, as well as faculty, staff, and other students with similar interests in social welfare.
While the community places a strong emphasis on engaging Social Work Prep students, students of other disciplines with an interest in the helping professions are encouraged to be part of the Social Work LLC.
The Social Work LLC is designed to successfully transition students into the major and university life as a whole and establish lasting friendships among participating students.
LLC Participants will enroll in at least one course during the fall and spring semesters.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Transfer Living Learning Community is for any student who is transferring to WKU from another institution of higher education.
This LLC is open to any new incoming WKU transfer student.
Interest-Based Living Learning Communities
The Army ROTC Living Learning Community is for students who:
- Are enrolling in the ROTC program and a Military Science course
- Want to live in the same residence hall and form connections with other Army ROTC students
- Want to participate in extracurricular activities that connect learning in and out of the classroom
- Want to experience career exploration with faculty, students, and advisors
Army ROTC partners with Western Kentucky University to recruit, educate, develop, and inspire Senior ROTC Cadets in order to commission officers of character for the Total Army. The Army ROTC Living Learning Community consists of a diverse group of first year and scholarship students who are engaged in the Army ROTC program and a variety of co-curricular activities. The living learning community will create camaraderie and team building among ROTC students, ensure each ROTC student is persistent in their academics and connect ROTC students with faculty/staff to track student success through mentorship opportunities. Students in the living learning community will have access to many different opportunities to enhance their abilities and prepare them for their future careers.
The Band Living Learning Community offers additional support and special programming for students participating in the Big Red Marching Band.
Students in this LLC enroll in Music 347: Marching Band during the fall semester.
This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
The Chinese Flagship Program Living Learning Community houses students participating in the Chinese Flagship Program through the Mahurin Honors College. LLC participants are invited to exclusive events intended to immerse them in, and deepen their knowledge of, the Chinese language and culture. This LLC is for incoming freshman students only.
*Scholars participating in this living option are not required to have a roommate who is also in the Flagship. If you would like to request a room with a fellow Flagship student, please let our offices know when accepting your admission offer.
The Food Education & Allergy Support Team (FEAST) LLC engages students with food allergies and/or intolerances, medical nutrition concerns, and eating disorders, as well as students who are vegan or vegetarian, interested in healthy eating, or pursuing a major in Dietetics.
LLC participants benefit from living with other students dedicated to practicing food allergy safe cooking and fostering nutritious living practices. Monthly meetings and events planned and facilitated by WKU's Registered Dieticians and student leaders are designed to educate LLC participants on how to manage specific nutrition practices on-campus, and build relationships among LLC participants and WKU faculty and staff.
This LLC is open to any student interested in participating.
Northeast Hall provides the following amenities:
- Large spacious rooms, that include a bathroom within the room for two roommates to share
- Extended living - the residence hall will remain open during university breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Breaks)
- An "Iron Chef" style kitchen, so students can cook meals that remind them of home
- Small rooms with a table and chairs located on the ground floor that provide privacy for studying, prayer or small group conversation as you practice your English
The Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) Academy Living Learning Community is for any student who identifies as a student of color (Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American, and Multiracial) and/or is a first-generation college student, Pell eligible, and has some need with their transition, persistence, and graduation from WKU.
LLC participants may be enrolled in up to two courses including:
- UC 175: University Experience
- ENGL 100: Introduction to College Writing
This LLC is for first year and second year students only.
The Stonewall Suites (LGBT+) Living Learning Community is for students who strive to promote social integration and change for all gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations.
This LLC is open to any student interested in participating. Students interested in this LLC will go through an interview process before being selected into the community.
The $100 Solution™ House is a WKU Living-Learning Community of five individuals who have a passion for service and will be working together on projects through The $100 Solution™.
The $100 Solution™ provides students with knowledge, skills, and funds of exactly $100 USD to go into communities and make a difference by asking a simple question: “What can we do to improve your quality of life?” The program demonstrates the power a small amount of money has to change lives, and it challenges the way public service is traditionally done by fully engaging students in the process.
This LLC is open to any second year or higher student.
You can apply for a Living Learning Community through your WKU Housing Application. You can indicate and rank up to 3 Living Learning Community preferences.
Depending on the LLC, you may be asked to submit more information. You will be contacted by LLC staff about participating.
If selected for an LLC, you will be assigned to the building/floor housing the LLC.
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