Living Learning & Theme Communities

Living Learning
& Theme Communities

West Chester University offers Living Learning Communities and Theme Communities exclusively for incoming first year and transfer students. Housed in WCU Managed resident halls, Living Learning Communities and Theme Communities allow students with a shared academic or personal interest to live on the same floor in the same residence hall.

By living in these communities, you’ll be surrounded by other Golden Rams who share your interests, making it easier to take what you learn in classes, co-curricular, or life and connect it to your future career putting you on the fast track to success.

How to apply for an Living Learning Community or Theme Community:

1. Apply for WCU Managed Housing

The 2025-26 First Year and Transfer Student Housing Application opens mid-March 2025
Apply for Housing

2. Apply to the LLC/Theme Community

Each LLC has a unique application process and eligibility requirements. Specific instructions for applying are listed below

Living Learning Communities (LLCs)

A Living Learning Community (LLC) connects students with shared academic or personal interests live together. LLCs foster a supportive environment that aims to enhance academic success and personal growth.

Through theme programming, shared courses, and collaborative activities, residents in Living Learning Communities engage in a unique, immersive educational experience within the comfort of their living space. To participate and continue to live in the community students are required to actively participate based on the LLC application and agreement.

Students who participate in LLCS are more likely to succeed academically and socially and have a higher graduation rate than students who choose not to participate.

Sustainability & Social Justice Leadership

Description

West Chester University’s Sustainability & Social Justice Leadership Living Learning Community (LLC) provides a unique opportunity for students to become engaged leaders in a world that faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Participants live together in a wing of a residence hall where they investigate what it means to live sustainably while participating in activities designed to enact a vision of the future characterized by high quality of life and wellbeing for all; meeting the needs of present and future generations; justice and equity; and living within ecosystem limits. In partnership with WCU’s Office of Sustainability and its Sustainability Peer Educators, members of the Living Learning Community will participate in professional development as well as applied campus and local sustainability projects that lead to meaningful change. Field trips and tours, events, creative activities, hands-on work, food tastings, research talks and many other possibilities may be part of this unique living arrangement. The Sustainability and Social Justice Living and Learning Community is open to all students in all majors who are interested in developing sustainability and social justice leadership skills in their personal, academic, civic, and professional lives. This is a brand-new LLC, which means selected students will have the opportunity to shape sustainability living and learning at WCU, both for themselves and future participants.

Sustainability & Social Justice LLC Location

To Be Determined
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

The Sustainability and Social Justice Living and Learning Community is open to all students in all majors who are interested in developing sustainability and social justice leadership skills in their personal, academic, civic, and professional lives.
This is a brand-new LLC, which means selected students will have the opportunity to shape sustainability living and learning at WCU, both for themselves and future participants.

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.

Chemistry

Description

Through a collaboration between the Chemistry Department and Residence Life, we are offering a Chemistry Living and Learning Community (CLLC) for first-year and transfer students enrolled within the Chemistry Department. The CLLC is an on-campus community that is designed around the values and vision of WCU which emphasize scientific/quantitative literacy, collaborative approaches to service, effective communication, and inclusive engagement in diverse communities. Students that are a part of the CLLC will take part in the following activities: 1) developing successful and collaborative study strategies with other members of the CLLC with peer and faculty mentors, 2) cultivate an identity in STEM through community–building and career–oriented events both on and off campus, and 3) contribute meaningful service to the community and department to develop a sense of shared responsibility.

Chemistry Location

To Be Determined
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

Students should have selected a Chemistry Department Major (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic and Toxicological Chemistry, Chemistry-Biology, Pharmaceutical Product Development).

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.

Psychology Living Learning Community for Incoming First-Year Students

Description

When starting WCU, new Psychology students take many of their first semester courses together – as part of our Psychology Learning community. Psychology students can also expand this opportunity to include a living community. The Psychology Department Living Learning Community gives incoming first year students the opportunity to forge meaningful connections with other psychology majors and have access to resources to help increase a sense of academic and social belonging during the transition to college. These resources will include social events, information sessions and mentoring coordinated by psychology peer mentors and faculty throughout the academic year.

Psychology Living Learning Community for Incoming First-Year Students Location

To Be Determined
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

Any student with a Psychology major or minor.

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.

Honors Living Learning Community

Description

The Honors College is a community of students and faculty who share a commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom. By engaging deeply with the big questions facing our world today, we prepare students to be leaders in their communities and to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

At the heart of the Honors College is a customized curriculum that counts toward the general education requirements for graduation. Our Honors classes are not about writing longer papers or spending more time in the library. Instead, they are about meaningful conversations between many different perspectives on the issues that matter most. Honors classes provide both the challenge and support to help you reach your full potential. It is no surprise that our Honors graduates routinely attend outstanding job placement upon graduation, as well as acceptances to top medical, law, and graduate programs.

The Honors College floor has a dedicated music room, computer lab and lounge. Honors College students participate in roommate matching and room self-selection with their cohort of students.

Honors Living Learning Community Location

Allegheny Hall, 7th Floor
USH-Affiliated Housing

Eligibility

Students that are accepted into the Honors program will have the possibility of living in this community.

Emerging Technology

Description

Embedding technology into student learning experiences helps them gain skillsets and become better critical thinkers; simultaneously, many technological resources are forgone in the college experience for theory and frameworks, leaving the technological-skills to internships, capstones, and off-campus experiences. Students in the Emerging Technology Living Learning community (ETLLC) will be involved in an immersive experience throughout their first year at WCU. The ETLLC brings students together to be surrounded in a technology-centric environment, helping support an educational experience connected to the fields of communication, media, digital humanities, journalism, computer science, and other related areas. This program is designed for students with technology-based interests housed in any degree program. The theme of Emerging Technology offers the opportunity for students to engage with novel methods of using media to communicate, in addition to promoting original and creative thinking toward the development of new future-oriented forms of media.

Emerging Technology Location

To be determined
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

Students of any major are welcome to join.

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.

Academic Success Program

Description

The Academic Success Program offers the option for first-year students in the program to participate in a learning community. The learning community consists of other first-year ASP students. Participation in the learning community is optional.

Academic Success Program Location

To Be Determined
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

Students must be accepted into the Academic Success Program to be eligible.

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.

Theme Communities

Theme communities in residence life are organized around a specific theme or common interest. These communities are designed to create a more immersive and focused living experience for students who share a particular passion, interest, or lifestyle. Theme communities aim to enhance the overall residential experience by fostering a sense of belonging and creating opportunities for like-minded individuals to connect.

Lavender Garden

Description

The Lavender Garden themed living floor is a community open to first-year students and a small group of returning students looking for an affirming, inclusive, and supportive living experience. Lavender Garden is open to students of any gender identity or gender expression. Residents can look forward to participating in social and educational programming. These programs are designed to embody the values of belonging, social justice, intersectionality, and wholistic wellness as well as learning how to access resources on campus. There are two gender inclusive bathrooms on the floor, including shower facilities.

Lavender Garden Location

Killinger Hall, 2nd Floor
WCU Managed Housing

Eligibility

Students that support a welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of sexuality, gender identity/expression, or other identities.

Application

Students can apply through the WCU Managed Housing application by choosing WCU Managed Housing as their preferred housing provider within the Application for On-Campus Living.
To be considered, students must indicate their preference before June 1, 2025.