Where the Magic Happens: A Student-centered Approach to Community Building in Faculty-led Interdisciplinary and Affinity Living/Learning Communities

3:45-4:35 p.m.

Location: Pollock B

Type: Informative/panel

Audience: Living Learning Communities

Presenters: Melissa Foreman, Chinenye Anyanwu, Jaci Van Heest, and Sara Dahlen, University of Connecticut

Chinenye Anyanwu, founding Faculty Director of UConn's newest Living/Learning Community, BSOUL (Black Sisters Optimizing Unity & Leadership) House, flipped her approach to implementing community building activities based on stories shared in a faculty director meeting by Jaci Van Heest, Faculty Director of Public Health House. This spring, student leaders were assigned a month to lead community building activities. The approach resulted in events students wanted and increased engagement and attendance. Student-led activities included a Black Student Organization Involvement Fair and a Health Innovation Hackathon. During this session led by students, faculty, and staff, participants will learn strategies to develop student leaders as a vehicle to ensure activities are relevant and have peer buy-in, which is where the magic happens in LC experiences. When directors craft scaffolded community and leadership development, students will dare to take risks, knowing that whether they fail or succeed, they have their community to lean on.