This article is part two of a three-part series. Read part one here.
At the beginning of this semester, Neumann rolled out a number of learning communities on campus.
These communities consist of the Franciscan Justice Circle, the Sports & Esports Management community, the All Female community, and Substance Free Knights.
What is a learning community, you may ask? A learning community is a residential experience where students that share interests, socially or academically, live together. Students who live here can bond with their roommates due to similarities and share successes. This opportunity provides students with a chance to have a customizable education and life here at Neumann University.
One community that Neumann offers is the All Female Community. This learning community consists of a group of women living in a house on Convent Road. The opportunity to live here provides you with a safe space to learn, live, and advocate. One of the key features of this house is this group of women coming together to advocate for women’s rights and help others out. This space also helps the residents learn about their roommates’ experiences as women.
The final learning community is Substance Free Knights, a learning community with a group of students who also reside in a house on Convent Road. This community provides a safe space for those who wish to stay clean and live around those with similar goals. Students that want to stay substance-free intentionally are provided with opportunities within this community by having faculty members drop-in for listening sessions with students either who are recovery curious or for students that know someone they are trying to support in staying substance-free. Students that live in this community also give up the option to have any alcohol in this space, regardless of age.
Living in a learning community provides residential experience that promotes strong connections with their fellow Knights. This opportunity makes the students’ residential experience unique, providing opportunities for leadership development and experiential education well past the classroom walls.
“The communities give you the opportunity to live amongst others with similarities to you, whether that is gender or lifestyle choices,” says Raniyah Williams.
Williams is a residence assistant (RA) on campus, and she monitors some of the learning communities as a part of her RA duties, while also residing in the all-female community. Who better to speak to than someone who experiences it from all angles?
Thus far, Williams has enjoyed living with all women. “I like the chances for advocacy and community the learning communities provide. We can learn about each other’s experiences as women and advocate for women’s issues.”
Williams recognizes this experience is different from other on campus living options, but in a good way for her. “I have to say I love the differences so far,” says Williams.
“It is much quieter in a learning community, and I get to live with only women, which is a bit of relief for me,” in reference to living in the dorms in years past.
“The slow and private lifestyle of the learning community is a welcomed change from the slight chaos of the dorm buildings,” Williams rejoiced.
Williams not only loves this opportunity for herself, but for others too. “I would recommend people to live in these communities because they give you more privacy than the other housing options. I would recommend people who are more anxious or prefer to live with others they have something in common with.”
It isn’t just Williams who is enjoying herself, it’s others too. From her experiences as an RA, Williams has been able to gather students’ thoughts and see how they are acclimating to the communities.
“I have heard little to no complaints about living in the communities,” says Williams. “Residents seem to like the increased privacy of living in a house.”
Despite the positivity Williams has experienced and seen, she believes there is still room for improvement.
“I think a wider range of communities could make them better. That would also provide a space for other types of learning, rather than the few we have now,” expresses Williams.
Like many other students, Williams has some concerns with these communities as well.
“I think there could also be some better planning with what the learning communities would do. We could do service events, have events surrounding the type of community we live in, and more,” suggests Williams. “It does not seem like we really have a system for that.”
Are the learning communities serving their purpose? Williams has mixed feelings.
“I do not think the learning part is being implemented exactly, but the community and housing comfortability seem like a success to me,” she says.
This wasn’t the only complaint from Williams, as she was concerned about the student body’s knowledge of these communities as well.
“I think the learning communities are not impacting the campus like they should. Most of the student body has no clue where the houses are, let alone that they are a learning community, stressed Williams. “I have had multiple people ask me where the houses are, and some are a little confused, but pleasantly surprised when they learn they are houses for specific communities.”
Despite Williams’ enjoyment of the communities thus far, she expressed dismay over the roll out of these on-campus additions.
