Living Learning Communities (LLCs) 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 2019-2020 LLC application opens Tuesday, January 29.
Why LLCs? LLCs provide students an opportunity to discover, explore, and apply knowledge through multidisciplinary projects, programs, and coursework in a wide array of different themes. LLC 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 LLC students outperform their non-LLC peers in both retention and graduation rates. They report having a smoother transition to and through college both academically and socially.
All current residential students are encouraged to apply, even if they are not presently in an LLC. LLCs open to returning students include:
- Environment & Sustainability
- Gender & Social Justice
- Honors College
- Leadership through Community Engagement
- LGBTQ+
- Outdoor Adventure
- The First – First Generation College Students
- VolgenauSchool of Engineering
- Well-Being
LLC applications are due Tuesday, February 5 via the housing application: https://gmu.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortal. If you have questions, contact LLC@gmu.edu or (703) 993-6674.
On-Campus Residence Hall Closures
Most freshmen residence halls will close at 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 20. Students leaving for the winter break are encouraged to take valuables (passport, medication, jewelry, electronics, etc.) home with them. If your student plans to return to the same room after the break, they will not need to remove any belongings or check out with the residence hall staff. Students who currently have a vacancy in their room should anticipate having a roommate when they return in the spring. Residents should plan to leave 24 hours after their last exam or by 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 20 (whichever comes first).
The following buildings will remain open during winter break:
- Blue Ridge
- Eastern Shore
- Hampton Roads
- Jackson
- Liberty Square
- Mason Global Center
- Northern Neck
- Piedmont
- Potomac Heights
- Rogers
- Roosevelt
- Sandbridge
- Taylor
- Tidewater
- Townhouses
- Whitetop
Returning to Campus
All campus residences will reopen at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 18, 2019. There is no early arrival available for the spring semester.
Not Returning to Campus
Students needing to cancel their housing assignments for any reason must follow the Housing Agreement Release Request process to terminate their spring assignments. Please visit https://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 2019, encourage them to stop by the Off-Campus Housing Fair next Tuesday, December 11 from 2-4 p.m. in Dewberry Lobby on the ground floor of the Johnson Center.
During the Off-Campus Housing Fair, representatives from roughly 20 local apartment communities and other off-campus businesses will be present with property information and to answer any questions your student may have about moving and/or living off campus. There will also be representatives from Off-Campus Student Services to address concerns about budgeting, leases, and transitioning to off-campus housing.
For more information on the Off-Campus Housing Fair or Off-Campus Student Services, visit offcampus.gmu.edu/off-campus-housing-fair. If your student is unable to attend the fair and would like to speak with a staff member of Off-Campus Student Services, they can make an appointment at offcampus.gmu.edu.
Additionally, we will be hosting an Off-Campus Housing Info Session on Thursday, December 6, at 11:30am in HUB 1012. This session will prepare your student for the basics of what it means to live off campus, including definitions, apartment basics, and differences between on and off campus life. This info session will equip your student with the information they need to start their search!
Aysha Puhl
Associate Director of Living Learning Communities
Housing & Residence Life
Emilie Dubert
Associate Director
Off-Campus Student Services