Kennedy Bowles
Reporter
There are now four Living Learning Communities on the Mississippi University for Women campus.
The newest ones are for students studying Culinary Arts, Leadership Learning and those taking part in the new Women’s College at the university. They join the Nursing Living-Learning Community that was already on campus.
A Living Learning Community is a place where students can find common ground with others. It further supports their academic development and strengthens their connection to the campus community. Tamera Jones who is the resident director of programming said a dorm resident rooms with someone with matching interests. These communities develop connections among students, helping them increase involvement beyond the classroom.
“We have Culinary Arts, living learning community. We have Women’s College living community. A nursing community and Leadership and Service community and so all of them are new except the Nursing Community.” Jones said, “So what that is, is you’ll be living with students that’s in the same major as you or like-minded, like you.”
These communities, are part of Housing and Residence Life at The W, help students feel at home away from home. Casey Cook, the residence director of staffing, said that it is their current mission to make living and social spaces feel and look homey. Social spaces in each dorm are designed to encourage communication, group socialization and a community that is inviting and familiar.
For instance, Housing and Residence Life encourages students to personalize their living
spaces. Students often decorate their dorm rooms and doors with items that showcase their
personalities and interests.
“Things that we are looking at right now, to better help things, are to give it more of a homey feeling,” Cook said.
Residence Assistants organize interactive events to encourage students to leave their rooms and interact with others across different residence halls on campus. This helps residents to socialize and make friends outside their dorms.
Makayla Givan, one of the resident assistants at Kincannon Hall, said that residents need to get out of their rooms and do something around campus. “When I first started, I was like y’all I wanted to be in my room, but something forced me out of my room. So, get out the room and go to the café, go to the library, go to Subway, go somewhere. You can meet somebody at the post office or the bookstore or even the Nest. There are so many places to go, go to the events that I host or Student Life. Try things that you are interested in. You have got get out of the room,” Givan said.
Each community offers hands-on learning experiences connected to students’ academic programs. According to Housing and Residence Life, the Living and Learning Communities are intended to support student engagement.
The Living Learning Communities at The W connect students with peers who share similar academic and personal interests, encouraging collaboration beyond the classroom.
Resident Assistants also organize activities aimed at building community and supporting student well-being within the residence halls.
“So, we do programs that try to create community. It’s just so that they will know that if they have issues or if they are going through something dealing with mental health things, they can talk to us. We have flyers about mental health and mental events,” Givan said.
Housing and Residence Life is also available to give referrals or assistance to residents regarding mental health issues or academic issues.
These shared communities promote deeper engagement by connecting students with peers who share their interests and goals, creating a connection between classroom learning and residential life. RAs work to make dorms feel more like home with emphasis on comfort, connection and community. At The W, Living Learning Communities are not just places to live, it is a place to grow.