Dear Colleagues,
Last fall marked the 25th year of the UK Living Learning Program (LLP) —a strong example of excellence and academic collaboration on our campus. LLPs offer students an opportunity to live and learn together in an integrated academic residential environment with specialized programming, interactions with UK faculty and staff, and a supportive community that focuses on student success.
These programs have been so successful, that we are growing them exponentially.
In the fall of 2013, 960 students participated in 13 LLPs. In fall 2014, we are planning for 2,115 students in 17 LLP’s. That’s more than double the number of students in a single year. We couldn’t achieve this without a strong partnership with the academic colleges and student affairs.
The LLP expansion trajectory is 3,231 in fall 2015, 4,200 in fall 2016 and 4,577 in fall 2017. The new residence halls coming online each fall make this expansion possible. These halls have numerous amenities – robust technology, state-of-the-art classrooms, study rooms, multi-purpose rooms – all designed to enrich the residential “Live where you Learn” experience.
This is very exciting time for improving student quality of life. It's another example of our commitment to put students first in everything that we do.
We know that students who participate in LLPs have higher GPA’s and graduate at higher levels. However, I think that the excellence of these programs is best described by the students themselves. I'd like to share a few video testimonials from our students who live in these communities with you.
You can find more information about the Living Learning Program here.
The UK Honors Living Learning Program
The UK Honors Program Living Learning Program provides specialized programming designed to enhance the social and intellectual environment within the Honors community. Programming includes co-curricular activities such as nanoTED Talks, the "With Honors" film series, lunch events with faculty and "Beyond the Bell" events in which faculty bring the learning experience outside of the classroom for performances or trips to museums. The Honors LLP, with over 400 students is located in Central Hall I and II.
The UK Engineering Residential College
The UK Engineering Residential College (ERC), currently housed at Ingels Hall, puts about 100 first-year engineering students together in a supportive environment that enables them to eat, sleep and breathe engineering around the clock. The program also provides regular tutoring slots available for any student who needs extra help, as well as supplementary educational opportunities that go beyond the regular engineering curriculum. In fall 2014, the program will expand to 400 students in a new location at Champions Court I.
The College of Arts and Sciences' "A&S Wired"
A&S Wired is a student-centered residential college, which emphasizes dynamic skill sets in a technology-rich environment. All A&S Wired courses incorporate iPads, which each Wired participant receives upon entering the program. Coursework positions students within the traditions of the liberal arts and harnesses the power of the digital age. In fall 2014, this LLP will expand to 267 students located at Champions Court II.
LLPs provide strong co-curricular programming and collaboration. I'm very excited to see them continue to expand and enhance student success on our campus.
Go Wildcats.
Eric
@UKYMonday
(April 15, 2014)