Living-Learning Communities
Here at the University of Alabama, we believe that students should have every possible opportunity to succeed. Therein lies the purpose of our many diverse Living-Learning Communities. These programs allow students to have access to educational programs and extra-curricular activities exclusive to each Living-Learning Community. Each community is unique, with specific requirements and living arrangements. You may select certain communities during online room selection; others require a separate application and acceptance into that program before assignment. Please read the following information carefully, and contact your specific Living-Learning community or the HRC office if you have any questions.
You can also download the Living-Learning Communities Flier.
Parker-Adams Freshman Living-Learning Community in Harris Hall
The Parker-Adams Living-Learning Program serves incoming freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program creates a residence hall experience that emphasizes and supports students' learning. Participants enjoy taking some of their classes with students with whom they live, and students to get to know faculty through a mentorship program. Students become knowledgeable of campus activities and develop successful academic competencies. Friendships formed in the Parker-Adams community enrich the entire University career of the participants. Academic advising is available in the residence hall and help is available for students who need assistance in defining their interests. Students interested in applying for the Parker-Adams program should complete the application at http://parkeradams.as.ua.edu/. If any spots remain when room selection begins in the spring, students may select a space online. Selecting that space indicates agreement with all program requirements.
Blount Undergraduate Initiative
The Blount Undergraduate Initiative is a specialized living-learning environment for Arts and Sciences majors. Located in one of our newest facilities built specifically for the purpose, Blount Hall, 180 scholars reside within a building containing most of their classes, dining areas, computer facilities, and faculty mentors. For tour information call Brenda Montgomery at (205)-348-1706. To complete an application for admission to the Blount program, please click here.
Capstone Communication and Information Sciences Community in Harris Hall
The Capstone C&IS Community brings together students from this field of study to live in Harris Hall and share academic, social, and out-of-class growth experiences. Participants in this living option take a compass course, which serves as a useful introduction to the University. Students interested in participating in this program in Harris Hall can select a space there during online room selection in the spring. In selecting this space, you are agreeing to the requirements of the program.
Capstone Human and Environmental Sciences Community in Harris Hall
The Capstone HES Community brings together students from this field of study to live in Harris Hall and share academic, social, and out-of-class growth experiences. Participants in this living option take a compass course, which serves as a useful introduction to the University. Students interested in participating in this program in Harris Hall can select a space there during online room selection in the spring. In selecting this space, you are agreeing to the requirements of the program.
Capstone Nursing Community in Harris Hall
The Capstone Nursing Community brings together students from this field of study to live in Harris Hall and share academic, social, and out-of-class growth experiences. Participants in this living option take a compass course, which serves as a useful introduction to the University. Students interested in participating in this program in Harris Hall can select a space there during online room selection in the spring. In selecting this space, you are agreeing to the requirements of the program.
Commerce And Business
The C&BA Living Option for men and women, located in Friedman Hall, will provide a
personal, caring and supportive environment through increased student/faculty interaction. A C&BA faculty member lives in Friedman, and a
Master in Business Administration (MBA) student serves as a Hall Director overseeing the operation of the building. This option will expose
residents to a variety of perspectives, knowledge and information by involving C&BA faculty and staff, and business leaders in programs
presented in the residence hall.
Residents will benefit from the mentoring, advising and peer counseling that takes place in the building. Group study areas will provide
excellent opportunities for collaboration on papers, projects and business team requirements. Friedman is open to freshmen, as well as returning students. You must be a C&BA major to live in this option.
Click here to visit the C&BA website.
Engineering
Engineering living options are available for male Engineering students. These options provide an environment where students can exchange ideas, experiences, skills, and even class notes. The interaction between students with similar interests, and sometimes the same classes, is one of the main advantages of this living option. Students who apply for this option should be majoring in Engineering. The Engineering LLC is located in Bryant Hall.
The French House
This program is for any UA student who is interested in French language and culture. This living-learning community affords students with opportunities for language study and out-of-class experiences that bring some of the feel of the French-speaking world to Tuscaloosa. Blount Hall will be the new location for French House starting Fall 2013. For more information or the application please visit http://www.as.ua.edu/frenchhouse/ or contact Dr. Jean-Luc Robin at jlr@bama.ua.edu.
German House
If you wish to enhance your German skills in a fun and relaxed environment, the German House right on the campus of the University of the Alabama is the place to live for you! The Hans und Sophie Scholl Haus constitutes a unique living-learning program. Students who live in the house agree to speak German as much as possible, and also have the option of enrolling in a conversation course exclusive to German House residents. The program is supervised by a student director, who is a native speaker and lives in the house with the other residents. In most years about half of the residents are students from Germany or Austria and half are U.S. students.
Currently the Scholl Haus is housed in several apartments in the Bryce Lawn apartment complex on Bryce Lawn Lane. For more information, visit the German house site.
Honors College
The Honors College living option in Ridgecrest East, West and South is available to members of the University Honors Program, International Honors Program, and/or Computer-Based Honors Program. These coed living-learning facilities form the center of the University's tightly-knit honors community. Because of the demand for Honors Housing, only incoming Honors College freshmen and current residents of Honors Housing can be accommodated. Space does not permit Honors College participants living in other residence halls to move to Honors Housing. For more information, please visit honors.ua.edu.
The Mallet Assembly
Mallet Assembly, located in Palmer Hall, is an independent living option with the following goals:
- to recognize extraordinary scholastic achievement through its admissions process;
- to encourage further scholastic development through a comprehensive system of in house programs designed as learning activities that are enjoyable;
- to encourage the development of leadership skills through the self-government of the program and encouragement of individual and collective involvement throughout all areas of campus life; and
- to gather students to these ends with high scholastic and achievement records into a unique environment encompassing academics, recreation, unity, and fellowship.
For more information about applying to the Mallet Assembly, visit www.mallet-assembly.org.
The Rotary House
Rotary House offers a small, coed atmosphere for international students and other UA students who are interested in interacting with students from other nations. Students are selected for participation based on their interest and ability to be contributing community members.
For more information, contact Jim Bob Jones at jones006@sa.ua.edu.
The Spanish House
The Spanish House is a Living-Learning Community that will be located at Blount Hall starting Fall 2013. The goal of the Spanish House is to increase oral proficiency in a fun and relaxed environment. Students live together in suites with two double bedrooms and a bathroom and are guided by a live-in native (or near native) speaker. The students agree to speak Spanish as much and as often as possible, and to dedicate two hours each week to full immersion in a group context. Weekly activities in Blount Hall and on campus allow students to develop their Spanish language skills. The atmosphere of the living arrangements and activities is relaxed and focused on helping all students to learn and to grow as much as possible. Interested students can complete the application at http://as.ua.edu/spanishhouse/.
Eligibility
The Spanish House is open to any American or international University of Alabama undergraduate or graduate student interested in the Spanish language and Spanish or Latin American culture. A placement test showing proficiency through SP 201 and placement in SP 202 or higher is required.
Requirements
- Commitment to speak Spanish as much and as often as possible
- Enrollment in SP 205 (Fall) and SP 206 (Spring), except for graduate students and native speakers
- 10 weekly journals entries written in Spanish each semester if enrolled in program for two credits, 5 weekly journal entries each semester if enrolled for one credit
- Two hours weekly of full language immersion
- Participation in an end-of-semester group project
Application
A placement test is also required and can be taken during freshmen orientation (Bama Bound). For more i nformation, contact Alvaro Baquero at abaqueropecino@ua.edu.
Military Dependents
Dependents of military personnel face unique issues and circumstances when they go to college. This living-learning community (LLC) is offered to help those students achieve success during their first year of college. Rooms will be reserved in Mary Burke Hall, which is a co-ed hall with separate floors for men and women. The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs offers support and guidance to military dependents and serves as the sponsor for this program. Special events including social events and informative discussions will be held in the hall to address issues unique to students from military families. In addition, students in this program will be registered for the same EN 101 or 103 sections as a group so that they can study together in the residence hall and attend class events together. A one-credit freshman seminar class, FLC 101, will also be scheduled for students in this community.
This hall is open during University breaks.
Please contact David Blair, Director, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, for more information or to apply for this LLC: drblair1@sa.ua.edu.
Colaboratory
Colaboratory is one of our newest Living-Learning options for students majoring in Arts & Sciences. This program features a unique living environment in Blount Hall, located on the northwest side of campus (Colaboratory participants do not have to be in the Blount Undergraduate Initiative). Students who participate in Art, Dance, Theatre and Music programs will have the opportunity to live together in suite-style rooms while attending English and orientation courses together. Cultural events and weekly discussions will also be featured in the hall. Participants will attend cultural events together throughout the year. For more information, please contact Pamela Derrick at pwderrick@as.ua.edu or 205-348-2099 or visit http://as.ua.edu/colaboratory/.
