Freshmen live, learn at UNM

By Carolyn Gonzales

Part three in a series about recent changes at UNM made to boost retention and create a "freshman experience," a holistic approach to assist students entering college life. Click here to see accompanying story on linked science courses.

When the deans and directors of University College met to discuss ways to ease freshmen into UNM, they looked at ways other schools handled it and decided on a residential option to create a sense of community.

The Living and Learning Communities (LLC), a component of the Freshmen Learning Communities, allows freshmen to live in the Student Residence Centers (SRC) with other LLC students, although not just with those who are pursuing the same academic program.

“The SRCs are apartment suites. They are the ‘living’ aspect of the Living and Learning Communities,” says Dan Young, LLC program director. The community learning takes place in the University Seminars Program, courses tailored to the students’ fields of interest.

“Getting together with others who share their interests expands their view of the field. Living with others from other LLCs broadens their perspective and eases the students into the larger university culture,” Young says.

Last year, UNM offered LLCs in Engineering and Fine Arts. This year, the program expanded to include Architecture and Planning and Anderson Schools of Management.

“We had 30 students last year and are hoping for 60 this year,” Young says. Many of the LLC students are from out-of-state or from small towns. Many of those students traditionally opt for dorm life, he says.

One of the challenges program organizers had was getting students into courses together. “We tried using math or English as lock step courses, but some Engineering students were ready for calculus, others weren’t. Some students tested out of English 101, others didn’t. So, for example, this year we’ve picked an introduction to management course and a public speaking course for the Anderson LLC students. They won’t be in the courses exclusively, but they will all be in the course together,” Young says.

Research on the concept shows students tend to bond exclusively within the LLC group. “We want the students to be happy and supported, but we have set it up so that they mix both in classes and in the dorms,” he says.

“Seminar leaders help the students get more out of their courses. Many students view the 128 credit hours they must earn as 128 hoops to jump through. We try to get them to see it as 128 opportunities to learn something,” Young says.

Seminar leaders such as Liz Olton, LLC coordinator and Ph.D art history student, also help freshmen make links. “Education is not all a disconnect,” Young adds.

Connections got the program started. Peter White, University College, as well as Young, Rosalie Otero, Honors; Joel Nossoff, Student Programs; Larry Lavender, BUS; Prof. Michael Campana; Eduardo Hernandez Chavez, Chicana/o Studies; and Glenabah Martinez, Native American Studies; all had a hand in bringing the project to life.

Because the LLC is only for one semester, coordinators are looking to plan a program for students who need an additional semester of support as well as a service component.