Residential learning communities (RLCs) are residence hall environments designed to deliver academic and social benefits. For decades, many have argued RLCs are an effective means for increasing student success. Yet substantial changes in the defining characteristics of campus housing and student diversity have led to new questions about the…

This study examines whether participation in a diversity initiative, Project MosaiK, helped prepare students to engage and actively address social justice issues in their residence halls. After controlling for background characteristics, findings suggest that the more students participated in Project MosaiK activities, the more likely they were to…

The purpose of this study was to increase first year residential student engagement and participation in residence hall programs during the 2011 fall semester at the Downtown Phoenix Campus of Arizona State University. Six upperclassmen (Taylor Place Leaders) residing in a residence hall (Taylor Place) were matched by academic major with 17 first…

The authors examined the association between living learning communities (LLCs) and undergraduates' sense of community and belonging to their university and residence halls. LLC students scored higher on sense of belonging in residence, but not on campus, than did students in non-LLCs. Analysis of open- ended responses suggested that LLC students…

Residence hall students' (N = 1,186, 52% male, 90% White, 66% freshmen) involvement in their living community is influenced significantly by precollege student characteristics (gender, ethnicity), classification, attitudes (toward hall director, house cabinet, academic comfort, social environment, group study), and environmental variables (noise,…