New additions being made to the LLCs
Victoria Ronan
Equinox Staff
The Living/Learning Communities at Keene State College are in for a change next year.
The Living/Learning Communities (LLCs) at KSC are unlike any other residential hall on campus.
Coordinator of the LLC, Matt Salter, said a Living/Learning Community is a community of people living together with a common interest.
“By living in a Living/Learning Community you connect with people you normally wouldn’t connect with.”
He also said living in an LLC stimulates deeper conversations.
Salter said even though the current LLCs are great, it is time for an update.
“It’s time for a change. We’re improving on some good ideas and we also have some new ideas.”
He said the goal for next year is to keep all of the doors open and make it more of a community feeling.
The residential assistant’s roles in the LLCs are also going to change.
Salter said right now the residential assistants act more like advisors to the students living in the communities.
Next year the residential assistants will be managing the events put on by the LLCs with the help of the students instead of the students being completely responsible to put on programs.
Dayna Coleman, a senior, has lived in an LLC for the past two years.
“Living there provides opportunities to live with people that have the same goals, and interests as you.”
She said she loves living in one.
She also said that there is always something going on for you to be a part of.
KSC student, Caitlin Carter, currently lives in a LLC.
She said she would recommend it to everyone.
“It’s like a little family.”
She said by living in an LLC everyone you live with has common interests and you enjoy doing things with each other. Carter lives in the Community Service LLC.
She said, “It’s a lot of fun.”
However, if students want to be more involved than just attending these programs they have an opportunity to join a steering committee to help plan the programs.
Coleman believes going to the programs is the learning part in an LLC.
She also said that there are benefits to living in one.
“One benefit is not going through the housing process. You don’t have that stress.”
However, even though students living in an LLC do not have to participate in the normal housing selection process, Coleman said you do have to apply to be accepted to live there.
She said the process was online and that you really have to put time and effort into the application.
These applications help decide who gets chosen.
Salter said this year a lot of students applied by themselves and not with a group of friends.
Carter plans on living in a LLC next year too.
She said she believes living in one has greatly benefited her time at KSC.
“It’s easier to meet people.”
Carter also said she thinks the changes for next year are going to benefit the program.
This upcoming year the school is offering new communities that not only involve the older ones but give opportunities for new interests, said Salter.
He said the communities will be broader to include more student interests rather than being so specific.
He hopes this will bring a sense of community.
The LLCs will no longer be specific to each suite.
Salter said they will be separated into different wings of the building.
The communities for next year are Equity and Social Justice, Mind, Body, and Character, Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (E.T.L.S), Citizens and Service, and Living Green.
Salter said Pondside III is where all of the LLCs are located.
“This is the only residential hall on campus where sophomores, juniors, and seniors can live together.”
Coleman hopes the KSC LLCs will continue to grow and change into a place where students actually live and learn together.
“That means taking classes together and living together.”
She hopes that someday it will be like this here at KSC.
Salter is very excited for the change and hopes these changes will help build a closer community all together here at Keene State.
Victoria Ronan can be contacted at vronan@keene-equinox.com
