Many university residence life programs are shifting to include housing options that provide additional programming and resources for groups of students with common interests or majors. This has shown to improve university retention rates, increase overall student satisfaction, and is also often used to attract students to a university. These communities can also be used to address a need on campus or to provide additional support and resources to residents of the learning community.  Ideally, faculty and residence life staff work together to provide an enriching living-learning experience.

For the 2013-2014 academic year, the Office of Residence Life and the Department of Nursing will be collaborating to pilot the Nursing Living Learning Community. We aim to provide a socially and academically focused community to increase nursing student’s peer support systems and provide supplemental learning opportunities.  The community was designed with sophomore and transfer nursing students in mind, but is open to all upperclassmen nursing students interested in participating.

Why develop a Nursing Living Learning Community?

RMU has a well-respected, academically challenging, thriving nursing program. Students in the nursing program form close friendships with others in the program typically through study groups and shared courses. Many maintain their nursing friendships throughout their time in the program. This community is specifically aimed at providing the participating sophomore nursing students with an environment that will help them be most successful at achieving their academic goals. Sophomore year is when many of the core curriculum classes begin, coursework becomes more demanding, and relationships are formed with nursing faculty and upperclassmen in the program. If a nursing student struggles in their sophomore year, they are more likely to change their major or withdraw from RMU.  By junior year, many nursing students have created strong friendships with 2-4 other students and will choose to move off campus, or apply for an apartment together, however, many upper-level students find it helpful to review the prior year’s content and serve as mentors for the underclassmen. Additionally, the RA and faculty lead programming will be applicable to all members of the specialize community.

Residential Community Overview

·       Open to students who have declared nursing as his/her major, and have completed at least 12 credit hours.

·       Floor(s) will be staffed with academically strong upperclassmen Resident Assistants (RA) who are declared nursing majors with at least 48 completed credit hours.

·       Many RA programs will be directly related to nursing student needs and interests, such as learning new study skills, open lab practice sessions, and discussions about hot topics in the nursing field.

·       Faculty-led presentations, seminars, and excursions will supplement the RA programming.

·       Organized trips to local and regional sites for networking and learning opportunities

·       24-hour access to a study room located in the community

·       Opportunity to form study groups with peers in the community

·       Students will have an early move-in date, a program orientation, and will complete a community service project to build residential community relationships and have a shared experience.

·       Students will create “Floor Norms” such as modified quiet hours and peer expectations.

·       Applicants who submit their housing contract, deposit, and the application by March 19^th will self-select rooms and roommates in early room selection on March 22^nd onto the floor(s). Same- gender roommate groups must be formed by March 20^th.