Living and learning together

Living and learning together

July 30, 2014

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By Mark Kerr, Senior Communications Officer

A program that allows first-year students with similar interests or values to live together in residences is expanding this year under the direction of a dedicated co-ordinator.

[Molly Raffan, Co-Ordinator of LLC program]Molly Raffan (Ed'09) is the new co-ordinator of Living-Learning Communities, a program that allows first-year students with similar interests or values to live together in residences.

Molly Raffan (Ed’09) recently returned to Queen’s to lead Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), a program she oversaw for five years at Trent University in Peterborough. On the job for just over a month, Ms. Raffan is eager to build on the solid foundation that was created during the program’s inaugural year at Queen’s.

“I really want to grow the program and partner with a variety of people across Queen’s so that the LLCs have more of a presence on campus,” she says. “I really love working with first-year students. LLCs are a great way to exercise my passion for teaching outside of the conventional classroom.”

Students in an LLC share goals and tackle projects and challenges together. Furthermore, students living in these close-knit communities benefit from creative programs and support from their peers, faculty and professionals.

Living-Learning Communities can open doors for students and help them make connections that hopefully last their entire university career.

– Molly Raffan, Co-ordinator, Living-Learning Communities

Ms. Raffan says the LLCs program is just one of the many ways Residence Life eases students’ transition to university.

“It can be unnerving to move on to a residence floor with 60 other people you don’t know. I think LLCs can open doors for students and help them make connections that hopefully last their entire university career,” she says.

Ms. Raffan adds that the LLCs program encourages first-year students to consider their professional aspirations and set academic goals that will help them down that path. The LLCs program connects students with faculty members and representatives from campus resources to support this process.

A Computer Science LLC is new this year, joining Active Living, Leadership, Science and Nursing LLCs. The LLCs program will accommodate 100 first-year students in 2014-15, up from 60 last year.

Faculty and staff who wish to support learning opportunities within the LLC program can contact Ms. Raffan by email.