Themed Communities
In contribution to the academic mission of the university, the Department of Residence Life is excited to offer the option for students to live in themed communities based on academic pursuit or interest area.
Living Learning Communities
Living learning communities partner with the academic side of UW-Platteville to offer students to live and learn in the same community cohort. Students can sign up to live with other students who are studying the same major as they are. A program coordinator of the LLC collaborates with the resident assistant for academic and social programming.
Benefits of living within an LLC include:
- Enhanced academic and social opportunities
- Improved grade point average
- Greater involvement in learning
- Increased satisfaction with your UW-Platteville experience
- Friendships with classmates who may be in the same classes and programs
- Stronger academic relationships and better connections with faculty members
For living learning communities, students will pay an additional fee of up to $100 to support programming and event opportunities associated with their choice of community. Each LLC has a separate registration process. Please go to the website or contact the programmatic department for the LLC of your choice to register and submit the fee.
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Agriculture
The Agriculture Living Learning Community is for first-year students who are majoring or minoring with the School of Agriculture. Students will be introduced to the wide breadth of opportunities offered in the field of agriculture. The Agriculture LLC is located in Dobson Hall.
Students from the first-year community are encouraged to participate in the Second-Year Cooper Agriculture Living Learning Community located at Pioneer Farm at the Cooper Living and Learning Center. This LLC specializes in programming to prepare you for life beyond college in your agricultural career. Activities may include employer visits, faculty visits, resume and interviewing workshops, etc. If you complete the housing contract and are not selected to participate via the interview process by the School of Agriculture, you will be required to reside in another on-campus residence hall space, other than the Cooper Living and Learning Center.
For details and registration information about the agricultural living learning communities, contact Dawn Lee at leedaw@uwplatt.edu.
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Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Living Learning Community enhances intellectual and personal development for first-year criminal justice students interested in career areas such as law enforcement, forensic investigation, probation and parole, corrections, private security, loss prevention, and juvenile justice. Students will have the opportunity to participate in training and seminars facilitated by criminal justice professionals; attend career exploration field trips; participate in civic engagement projects; critically reflect upon the criminal justice field via guided discussions; and network with criminal justice professionals, faculty, and staff outside the classroom. Activities will include assisting with the Horrific Crime Scene Revisited event at the Forensic Investigation Crime Scene House, working with employers via Career Day, and a correctional facility tour. The CJ LLC is located in Dobson Hall.
To learn more, visit the CJ LLC or contact Dr. Nathanial Forrest at 608.342.1596.
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Health and Human Performance
The Health and Human Performance Living Learning Community is focused on students who are interested in following a career path in exercise science, health promotion-wellness, physical education, sports administration, coaching, or sports management. The HHP LLC provides residents with the opportunity to explore assisting others with their health and physical fitness goals through community service, programming activities, and leadership development initiatives. The HHP LLC is located in Rountree Commons.
For details and registration information about the HHP LLC, contact Ryanne Breckenridge at breckenridgr@uwplatt.edu.
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Innovation
The Innovation Living Learning Community is focused on making new innovations. Any UW-Platteville major can participate. Future innovators will have access to tools and resources to make their ideas a reality, including the new 20,000-square-foot Huff Family Innovation Center in Sesquicentennial Hall. You will have direct engagement with the IDEA Hub Accelerator and workshops will take place related to innovation and entrepreneurship. You will be poised to make your ideas and innovations come to life, while being exposed to a variety of academic resources.
The Innovation LLC is located in Dobson Hall. Students can expect to participate in hands-on activities that will get them thinking about innovation. There will be additional support from living learning community staff for navigating college life, finding resources, and getting advice.
For details and registration information, visit the Innovation LLC. For questions, please contact innovationllc@uwplatt.edu.
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Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (WiSTEM)
The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science offers two Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WiSTEM) Living Learning Communities–one for first-year students (WiSTEM 1) and one for second-year and transfer students (WiSTEM 2). Both communities provide an academic and personal support network for women studying in fields where they are traditionally underrepresented. Eligible students must be majoring in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, broad field science, sustainability and renewable energy systems, or undecided EMS. The WiSTEM LLC is a living learning community with a specific emphasis on creating a supportive environment for students who identify as women as well as non-binary students.
The WiSTEM LLCs are located in separate residence halls, Bridgeway Commons and Dobson Hall. Fun and intentional highlights of these communities include an orientation pizza party, pumpkin patch, pottery painting, community service opportunities, study groups and sessions with women who are in your classes and live near you, lunches and banquets with STEM professors, select academic and career/professional development workshops planned by LLC staff, company visits, end-of-year alumni reunion, and support and guidance from the LLC coordinator
For details and registration information, visit the WiSTEM LLC. For questions, please contact wistemllc@uwplatt.edu.
Interest Communities
Interest communities are available to students who share a common interest. These residential-based programs are designed to enhance the overall undergraduate student experience by fostering one-on-one relationships between faculty, staff, and students in a close-knit residence hall environment. Students are encouraged to explore intellectual, cultural, and social interests through experiential activities often linked to the academic curriculum. Unlike our LLCs, ICs do not have any programmatic fees associated with them. ICs are available to an entire building/floor community at no additional fee.
Many studies have shown that students living within interest communities often achieve higher grade point averages and are more likely to persist until graduation than those students not living in them. In our ICs, residents have a more effortless way of finding academic resources and social networks because these services will be readily promoted to them. If you are interested in living in one of the interest communities, select the building that hosts it as your first preference on your residence hall contract.
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Education
The Education Interest Community is located in Wilgus Hall and is designed for students interested in pursuing a major in K–12 education who want to surround themselves with other students who are passionate about teaching. Through a series of academic and co-curricular experiences, residents will learn what it means to be a teacher-leader, enhance their understanding of the issues facing the education workforce today, and enrich their knowledge of students and curricular content. Students will also become connected to the Student Wisconsin Education Association organization at UW-Platteville.
This interest community is open to all first-year students. Enrollment is closed once the building is full.
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First Year Experience
The First Year Experience Interest Community is located in Melcher Hall, and is designed to assist the freshman transition from high school to college both academically and socially. Students are provided with social opportunities throughout the year with special emphasis on meeting people in the first few weeks of the semester to help form a tight-knit community. Students will also be given tips, resources, and programmatic opportunities aimed at helping them reach their academic goals.
This interest community is open to all first-year students. Enrollment is closed once the building is full.
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Sustainability
Learn how to walk softly on the earth and build life skills by joining the Sustainability Interest Community located in Morrow Hall. Together, students will focus on learning about the impact we have on the world around us, and what we can do in our everyday life to make our environment healthy for years to come. Sustainability is the practice of "meeting the needs of the present while also enhancing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Students will learn by getting involved with the community garden on campus, group bike rides, Earth Day events, and recycling campaigns.
This interest community is open to anyone interested in learning more about sustainability. Enrollment is closed once the building is full.
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Women's Wellness
The Women’s Wellness Interest Community is located in Wilgus Hall and provides students the opportunity to learn about and act on social justice issues facing women of intersecting identities today. This IC also focuses on empowering and developing women both personally and professionally by taking a holistic approach to discussing topics such as physical and mental health, financial literacy, intellectual growth, and civic engagement. Participants will be able to develop in a fun and safe environment, supported by other strong women and their allies.
This interest community is open to all residents who are interested in personal and professional growth. Enrollment is closed once the building is full.
Affinity Housing
These communities bring together students with shared backgrounds, interests, or affinities without the academic elements of learning communities.
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Multicultural Affinity House
The Multicultural Affinity House is located in Dobson Hall and provides a space for students to live and learn with other multicultural students. This community actively works on creating inclusive environments for students, faculty, and staff to engage in, promote diversity, equity, and justice. The wing works to uplift and empower each other to be their authentic selves. Open to any student, new or returning who is an active participant within the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Community enrollment is open as occupancy allows.
For more information contact Brittany Sherman, shermanbr@uwplatt.edu.