Living & Learning Communities

LLC Application Process About the program Community History

 

The mission of the Living Learning Communities (LLCs) is to offer a unique residential experience for groups of upperclass students who develop an in-depth understanding of a societal issue, hobby, or interest connected to a Student Senate official club. In addition to living together, members of these communities plan to collaborate with each other, Cornell employees, and the surrounding towns and cities through community service.

Spring 2027 Selection Process for 27-28 Communities

Application form 

Example application

Your LLC Coordinator: Jessi Bee

1. Mandatory information session
   1. Interested in starting or renewing an LLC? Email the LLC Coordinator to schedule an information session.
2. Application review sessions
   1. Groups can have their tentative applications reviewed for completion and compliance. This opportunity is optional but highly encouraged. Email the LLC Coordinator to schedule a review.
3. Application due date
   1. Email the LLC Coordinator an electronic copy (ie PDF, Microsoft Word, Google Doc) of the application by Friday, Feb. 12, 2027 by 4:30 p.m.
4. Group Interview
   1. Once you submit the application, a group interview will be scheduled. All members are encouraged to attend.
5. Notification of status
   1. The proposed LLC chairperson will be notified via email if the group has or has not been accepted by Monday, March 1, 2027.
6. Declaration of acceptance & housing preference form
   1. A group member must submit the declaration of acceptance & housing preference form to the Residence Life Office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2027.
7. Housing assignments finalized
   1. All LLC members will be notified of their living assignment after the housing process has been completed. Once housed by an LLC, students can no longer participate in the spring general room selection process.

About living & learning communities and expectations

Program history

The first LLCs & Theme Housing at Cornell College began in the fall of 2001 and opened in the newly renovated Merner residence hall. In its inaugural year, more than 150 students in 21 groups participated. These communities engaged in a wide variety of activities including community beautification through original art, raising cultural awareness, mentoring boys and girls in the community, tutoring, and fundraising for charitable causes.

Goals

The LLC program aims to achieve four goals.

• Exploration of a topic through personal efforts, peer-to-peer learning and the faculty/staff advising relationship.
• Action plan to address issues and concerns that arise from researching the group's topic and applying this knowledge to a service-learning project.
• Reflection of experiences and integrating lessons learned into future research and action.
• Educating others about the group's topic by presenting major issues, sharing personal experiences, and suggesting opportunities for individual and collective action.

LLC eligibility 

LLC must be sponsored by a pre-existing student organization related to the LLC focus on campus. For example, a theater and arts LLC could select the Student Theatre Council club as their sponsor.

Recruitment & membership

LLCs are responsible for the recruitment and selection of their own members. It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure the LLC is filled to capacity throughout the academic year. The LLC Chair must email the LLC Coordinator if vacancies can not be filled. 

In order to be a member of an LLC you must be in good standing.

• Be in good standing with the college including social, academic, and financial areas

• Must abide by all college policies outlined in the Compass

• In addition, returning members must have been an active participant within the LLC

Member commitments

Participation in the LLC program includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Annual commitment to participate in your LLC 
• Meet with your entire community at least once per block to reflect, plan and address issues
• Meet with your community’s faculty/staff advisor as an entire group at least once a semester
• Participate in on-going service opportunities throughout the year that relate to your communities focus area
• Assist in the planning, development and presentation of content for LLC program recruitment
• Taking part in research initiatives to assess the program’s effectiveness

Revocation of members or entire group

Individuals or groups who fail to meet program requirements will be formally warned by the LLC Coordinator and placed on individual or LLC probation. Groups and/or individuals on probation that fail to improve may be revoked and result in reassignment of individuals or an entire group to other available spaces on campus. Individuals may be barred from returning to an LLC the following year. Entire LLCs may have difficulty being accepted into the program again based on poor performance.

All LLC members are expected to adhere to all college policies. Any LLC harboring concerns about a member committing violations has the recourse to report this behavior to Residence Life for assistance, including the potential removal of a member from the LLC.  

Composition of an LLC

Chair:  This individual is responsible for the internal maintenance of the LLC. They submit all application-related materials and other program information. They work closely with their RA and Coordinator of LLCs to meet the needs of their members such as maintenance issues, roommate conflicts, questions about the program, etc. The Chair may delegate tasks to other members as the LLC sees appropriate.

Rep: This individual is responsible for the external coordination between the LLC and outside entities such as other Cornell departments, their sponsored club, and other student organizations. They may coordinate fundraising efforts with their sponsored club. 

Member: A general member helps the Chair and Rep as needed. Additional positions can be defined within the LLC such as Treasurer, Public Relations, Programmer, etc. at the LLC's discretion.

Faculty/Staff Advisor: The community must have a faculty or staff advisor who is committed to giving the LLC advice regarding their chosen topic. It can be the same advisor as their sponsor club or someone different. The sponsor's relation to the LLC's topic will be considered during the application process.

Housing options

LLCs may be placed in many halls on campus. The eligible halls may vary by year so check with the LLC Coordinator to find out what buildings will be considered. Some restrictions will apply such as a group with non-seniors will not be placed in Russell Hall, an a group of upperclass students won't be placed in a first-year hall. Members will be placed in double rooms. Students with housing accommodations should consult with Residence Life about options. Once placed in a room by the LLC process, students may not change their assignment.

Vacancies

If an LLC loses a member at any point during the year after submitting their official roster, the group will be granted the privilege to first fill the space with a member they select within a two week grace period after the vacancy occurs. All proposed new members must be approved by the LLC Coordinator prior to the student moving in. After the 2 week grace period, the vacant space can be assigned at the discretion of Residence Life.  

If an LLC has less than 4 members living in the assigned community during any time of the year, the LLC can be declared revoked and Residence Life may convert it to regular housing. Regular housing does not benefit from the above vacancy-filling privileges.

Residence Life reserves the right to assign a student to a vacant LLC space without prior notification.  Attempts to contact group members in advance will be made whenever possible. When discussing vacant LLC spaces with interested students Residence Life will generally communicate the commitment of each LLC. Furthermore, when possible, Residence Life will encourage interested students to inquire directly with the LLC they are interested in in advance of a room in order to encourage a positive fit. Residence Life will also encourage interested students to participate in the LLC's selection process, but cannot guarantee enforcement of the LLC selection process if the two week grace period has ended. 

Unavailability of summer storage

Summer storage is unavailable due to factors such as the cleaning schedule, camps, conferences, and a history of difficulty regarding policy compliance. All personal items that are not owned by the LLC must be taken home just as in a traditional residence hall room. No items deemed a personal item may be left behind and may be subject to disposal at the college's discretion. No restitution will be owed to any personal student item disposed of over the summer.

Current LLC Communities

BACO/Multicultural

The purpose of the Multicultural/BIPOC LLC is to establish a safe community for students of color–and their allies–within the group as well as campus wide. Throughout the academic year we will engage in exploring individual’s cultures, traditions, and identities in order to bring awareness to BIPOC and Multicultural students on campus. Members can expect to gain a community in which they can be themselves, learn and educate themselves on various cultures, identities, and traditions of those within the community, and participate in community engagement through programming across the academic year. Contact them at baco@cornellcollege.edu

Third Wave Resource Group (TWRG)

The Third Wave Resource Group aims to strengthen Cornell's campus by providing necessary resources to students, educating them on feminist issues, and providing support for students in harmful situations by connecting students to valuable on campus resources. We strive to promote activism and advocacy through a social justice and feminist lens. We aim to work closely with organizations like Emma Goldman Clinic and Riverview Center to ensure these resources for students are affordable and equally accessible. Contact them at twrg@cornellcollege.edu 

Past LLC Communities

The Cornell Bar Association

The Cornell Bar Association (CBA) is a group of students who help other students interested in applying to Law School through the Pre-Law Honors Society (PLHS), our connected student organization. For our LLC, we seek provide increased Pre-Law resources for Cornell students and build relationships with each other as we help each other ultimately apply to law school. Further, we serve the community by providing mock trial workshops with Cedar Rapids and Iowa City schools.

Artbox

The purpose of our Living & Learning Community is to bring awareness to the importance of creation and art in the lives of children and adults. The arts have impacted us all and have played an important role in our education. The issue we are directly addressing is the defunding of arts programs in schools, which we consider equally important to all other subject areas that are taught. However, art programs tend to be first to lose funding after budget cuts in schools. Our learning goals are to learn more about art and crafts techniques, discover how to best share our art and the process of creation with the community, and to learn how we can best help support art programs in schools. Our members wish to gain more knowledge of art techniques and to get the chance to express themselves with art regularly. We all hope to gain insight on how we can help the community see the importance of arts that we recognize. This experience will help us further grow and become more active citizens with a focus on a topic we all enjoy- the arts.

Birds and the Bees

The ultimate ambition of our community is to endorse and encourage sexual safety, awareness and responsibility among both our peers and high school students in the community. We believe that through the presentation of both educational programming and a system of peer support, we will work toward assisting in differentiating between sexually healthy and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes. Issues that will be addressed include STIs, sexual and relationship abuse, date/acquaintance rape, effects of drugs and alcohol, contraceptives and sexual orientation.

Building an Understanding of Spirituality

Our community's purpose is to encourage spiritual conversations and decrease sensitivity in discussing beliefs and faith. We would like to explore techniques that will help others to fell comfortable expressing their views on spirituality and connect with others through investigation and knowledge of different beliefs. We will learn about how spirituality affects everyday living, and whether a set religion or beliefs effect the values and meanings of life. Our hope is to spread knowledge and acceptance of diverse beliefs and faiths, as well as encourage the openness of spiritual practices in everyday life.

Cornell Advocates for Safety (CASH)

Cornell Advocates for Safety and Health is a group of students passionate about facilitating personal health and well-being through the promotion of drug safety, safer sex, and mental health. This group educates and supports a community that fosters personal growth and fulfillment, both on and off campus. Group members participate actively through weekly meetings and monthly events, allowing for our goals to be met, and for health and safety to be encouraged throughout the community.

Environmental Community Outreach (ECO)

The lifestyle of the average Western citizen is consumption-centric, highly delocalized, and resource-intensive. Though many people are realizing the inherent instability of this high-impact status quo, they are unsure how to move beyond it; Sustainable Living, the founding principle of the Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) House, endeavors to bridge that gap. The ECO house hopes to become a force for transformation within the Cornell and Mount Vernon communities, providing material resources, knowledge, laughter, and inspiration for those seeking to live lightly and joyfully through the essential changes ahead.

Impressionists

The purpose of our community is to present art as a type of service to the students of Cornell, the Mount Vernon community, and to the flood-stricken homes of Cedar Rapids, IA. Through our three main goals - Flood relief, local education and campus education - we will be using art as a way to serve those in need. We will be doing many projects, including art-gifting programs for floor-affected families, giving free art lessons to students in the Mount Vernon Community School District, holding fair trade sales and beautifying campus with possible public art displays around the hilltop.

Knights of Cornell

The Knights of Cornell is a group based on creating relationships between Cornell College and the Mount Vernon community. We will create this bond by reaching out to the student of Mount Vernon Elementary School by providing leadership, mentoring and diverse activities to foster a sense of community among all.

Languages

The goal of this community is to foster improvement in the learning of foreign languages. Group members will aid each other in improving their language of interest while also learning about other members' languages of interest. Outside of the building, the group will be teaching the basics of their language to students in the Mount Vernon school system or providing tutoring to older students. Within Cornell's community, the group will seek to bring awareness of other languages and cultures.

Lifelong Health & Wellness

In the college setting, students are given the opportunity to make independent decisions regarding their health. But, when presented the choice, many students are not choosing to lead healthy lifestyles, which attributes to the country’s increased rates of obesity and heart disease. We, as an LLC, hope to convince our fellow students, and selves, to make healthier long-term life choices, by promoting proper nutritional choices, routine exercise, and mental health awareness.

Mythos

Mythos stands for religions and spiritual research, cultural immersion and passionate education to better comprehend and understand mythology and the cultures of the world (post and current). Furthermore, we intend to share all of what we learn with others to promote tolerance and understanding through education to positively impact the community we live in.

New Bohemia

New Bohemia is an LLC for students who participate in the performing arts. New Bohemia is a resource that helps current and future students feel confident in their artistic skills. The group's mission is to rebuild and strengthen relationships within the performing arts and with communities around us. We are always actively working to increase attendance, engagement, and participation in Cornell College performances.

NOMS

NOMS is a community devoted to preparing and sharing food. On a monthly basis the NOMS community will explore and learn about a variety of recipes. This community endeavors to pool the skills and resources of it's participants to facilitate the development of cost-effective and healthy meals, as well as functional, self-regulated living arrangements. NOMS will interact with the rest of the Cornell community by hosting events designed to educate other students.

Octave

Octave is a music community. We are dedicated to the musical education of ourselves and the community. To accomplish this edification, we teach weekly lessons to underprivileged youth in Cedar Rapids, and have a monthly radio show and newsletter. As a community we also provide lessons to students on Cornell College campus, perform at least one concert a year, and put together small ensembles for events on and off campus.

Safe Space

In a joint effort to respond to the mental health needs of students Cornell’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and [alliance] seek to establish a safe space with all hours access to mental health first aid. We seek to provide a safe space for students in need of mental health assistance by trained members who live in a space that can accommodate overnight stays of non-resident students.

Theater and Dance

The Theater and Dance LLC is dedicated to increasing community outreach within Cornell College and the greater Mount Vernon Community through theatrical engagement. Through organization and facilitation of workshops, pre-show and post-show discussions, and transportation to performances on and off campus, we will work to make theater more accessible for all members of our community.

Vision

The purpose of this community is to create healthy outlets, foster creative growth and help broaden understanding of health and social issues faced by female students at Mount Vernon Middle School. Issues to be explored include (but aren't limited to) psychological and physiological development of adolescent females, benefits of physical activity, impact of risky behaviors, analysis of traditional gender roles, issues and diversity and the importance of further education.

Youth Advocates

Through this community we plan to gain knowledge of issues facing children today on a local, national and international scale. With our new understanding of these topics we will educate the Cornell community on our findings. We also plan to work directly with children and strive to be good role models for them.