{"id":4534,"date":"2013-03-05T23:04:05","date_gmt":"2013-03-06T04:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/?p=4534"},"modified":"2016-06-30T13:37:40","modified_gmt":"2016-06-30T17:37:40","slug":"living-learning-programs-review-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/2013\/03\/05\/living-learning-programs-review-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Living-Learning Programs Review Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Living-learning communities are an important part of Boston University\u2019s efforts to offer the best possible residential experience to students on our campuses. The hope of the living-learning community movement at large research universities (as seen at BU in programs like WISE@Warren, WISE-Up, the Kilachand Honors College, and our 30 specialty houses\/floors) has been that students living in smaller, more manageable communities focused on a common interest gain a richer academic experience that integrates what happens in class and what happens out of class, adapt more readily to college both academically and socially, and graduate on time in greater numbers.<\/p>\n

The growth of living-learning programs and their popularity with students suggests that they succeed in a number of ways, with national survey results indicating an easier transition to a college setting, higher overall grades, a stronger sense of belonging, a greater likelihood of attending graduate school, and marked gains in important skills like critical thinking among students taking part. The same survey raises some concerns, however, about whether students in these programs are indeed exposed enough to diversity or to interactions with people who may come from different backgrounds and perspectives.<\/p>\n

In an effort to better gauge the effectiveness of BU\u2019s living-learning programs and their potential for future growth, Beth Loizeaux, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, has asked a committee of faculty, staff and students to undertake a comprehensive review of BU\u2019s Specialty Houses and make recommendations for the development of these programs over the next 5-10 years. We are grateful that Nathan Phillips, Professor of Earth & Environment in the College of Arts & Sciences, has agreed to chair this panel. The Committee is charged with evaluating whether BU is taking full advantage of living-learning communities to:<\/p>\n