Learning Communities (LCs) are an opportunity for students to live on a floor or in a building with other students who share a common interest or major. The 2021-2022 Learning Community application opens Monday, December 14.
Why LCs?
LCs provide students an opportunity to develop friendships and community, discover, explore, and apply knowledge through multidisciplinary projects, programs, and coursework in a wide array of different themes. LC students create connections to their academic work in new and creative ways, receive additional academic and social support, and engage in transformative experiences through:
- On and off-campus projects and field trips with faculty and staff
- Faculty mentorship
- Networking opportunities with alumni and employers
- Access to academic tutors in a wide-array of different subjects
- Common courses and peer mentorship
Mason LC students outperform their non-LC peers in both retention and graduation rates. They report having a smoother transition to and through college both academically and socially. All current students are encouraged to apply, even if they are not presently in an LC. LCs open to returning students include:
- Arts
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- College of Engineering and Computing
- Environment & Sustainability
- Global Patriots
- Green Machine
- Honors College
- Leadership through Community Engagement
- LGBTQ+
- Well-Being
LC applications are due Tuesday, February 2 via the housing application: gmu.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortal. If you have questions, contact LLC@gmu.edu or (703) 993-6674.
Not Returning to Campus
Students seeking to cancel their housing assignments for any reason must follow the Housing Agreement Release Request process to terminate their spring assignments. Please visit housing.gmu.edu/apply/cancellations for more information about the cancellation process.
Off-Campus Housing Options
If your student is considering living off campus in 2021, encourage them to contact Contemporary Student Services and set up an appointment with one of our Off-Campus Advisors. These student staff members are trained on how to navigate the Off-Campus Housing Finder website, och.gmu.edu, and can help answer basic questions about living off-campus. Your student can set up an appointment with one of these staff members by visiting contemporary.gmu.edu, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking on “Click here to set up an advising appointment.”
Contemporary Student Services provides students with a Mason-specific resource for their off-campus housing search. Encourage your students to make a profile at och.gmu.edu with their Mason credentials (their @gmu.edu email address). Then, students are able to search for properties, contact landlords, conduct virtual tours, and even find other Mason students to live with as roommates! Family members can make a guest account as well. For all this and more, visit och.gmu.edu!
Contemporary Student Services provides a centralized resource center and comprehensive offering of academic and social engagement opportunities to specifically meet the needs of students living off-campus and those transitioning to off-campus living, contributing to a successful, holistic, and seamless collegiate experience.
For more information on the Off-Campus Housing Fair or Contemporary Student Services, you can contact Anthony Berardo, aberardo@gmu.edu, or Casey Smith, csmit34@gmu.edu. If your student would like to speak with a staff member from Contemporary Student Services, they can make an appointment at contemporary.gmu.edu or contact our Off-Campus Advisors at offcamp1@gmu.edu or 703-993-6563.
Aysha Puhl
Associate Director of Residential Student Education & Engagement
Housing and Residence Life
Casey Smith
Assistant Director for Off-Campus Student Services
Contemporary Student Services
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