Living Learning Communities

lmu housing llc living learning communities

Living Learning Communities

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are for students who share a common interest or academic pursuit, to live and study in an intentional educational community. LLC's create a more academically and relationally supportive environment for students living on campus and enhance the residential and educational experience of students.

Research shows that students who are involved in a Living Learning Community have elevated academic success, easier experience connecting with peers, increased graduation rates and overall higher satisfaction with their college experience. 

LLC Benefits:

There are many reasons to participate in Living Learning Communities at LMU, including:

  • To help facilitate the academic and social transition to college
  • To create strong academic skills to aid student's success
  • To increase collaboration with faculty, peers and LMU community
  • To aid in their retention at the institution
  • To integrate academic and co-curricular experiences
  • To promote increased satisfaction of the LMU college experience
  • To develop an openness to views different from their own 

 Living Learning & Theme Communities

  • First Gen Forever

    At First To Go at LMU, any student whose parent(s) and/or caregiver (s) did not receive a bachelor’s degree in the United States is referred to as a first-generation college student. The First-Gen Forever LLC aims to create an intersectional, identity-conscious living environment for incoming first-year, first-generation college students. The First To Go Scholars Program and its living community (First-Gen Forever) aim to empower students who have been systematically underserved in higher education. In collectively celebrating our first-gen identity, we create a community that pioneers initiatives in service of justice and advocates for first-gen student equity, access, and inclusion. First-Gen Forever LLC will stimulate academic, personal, and professional success for first-generation students by immersing first-year, first-gen students in a holistic living environment supported by faculty, staff, and University resources.

    Follow us on Instagram: @ftglmu 

    Contact: firsttogo@lmu.edu 
    Housing: Del Ray South

    Honors LLC 

    The University Honors Program operates the HONORS LLC, which aims to prepare students for a full and intellectual life. The program integrates the Honors program with a living and learning curriculum to maximize students' experience and enhance the first-year experience. Along with taking two courses in the academic year, members of the LLC will enjoy office hours with honors faculty and staff, allowing for more interaction than just the confines of the classroom. There are also extracurricular events (trips and events) facilitated by the University Honors program faculty and staff. Students must be enrolled in the Honors program to apply. 

    Contacts: Nubia.Valenzuela@lmu.edu - 310.338.7349
    Housing: Del Rey North

    Seaver College Living Learning Community (LLC)

    The Seaver College Living Learning Community (LLC) is a living-learning community program for first-year students in the Seaver College of Science and Engineering. Students majoring in any of the fields of study within Seaver College are eligible. Students enroll in a 1-unit seminar together, live together in the same dormitory building, and engage in co-curricular experiences designed to create a fully integrated learning experience. These components further the student's interest and success in pursuing careers in the sciences. Please note that students in this LLC must take a course in the Ignatian Leadership Institute (EDLA 489, 490, or 491) during the fall semester. This is a one-credit course.

    Contacts: css@lmu.edu -310.338.2834
    Housing: Palm North

    SFTV Floor

    This living community houses first-year SFTV students in Del Rey South. Students will live in community with fellow film and media enthusiasts and engage in events and programming to directly support their transition to film school.

    Residents will have a unique chance to immediately bond with other students with similar interests and career goals.  

    Benefits of the Program:

    Students will live on a floor comprised entirely of SFTV students.
    Regularly attend events catered to the SFTV community organized by resident advisors who are SFTV upperclassmen.
    Engage with RAs who are SFTV upperclassmen interested in programming SFTV- specific events.
    Engage with the current Faculty in Residence, who is SFTV faculty.

    Space is limited to 30 students. Spots are awarded by lottery. Please indicate your preference to live on the SFTV floor on the Housing Application. Students admitted to the SFTV floor cannot room with students with non-SFTV majors.

    Contact:  sftvllc@lmu.edu - 310.338.5800
    Housing: Del Rey South

    Transfer Community (TRLLC)

    The Transfer Living Learning Community (TRLLC) is an intentional year-long program that helps new, incoming transfer students transition successfully into the LMU environment and experience. Students living in a residential community maximize their opportunities during their time at LMU. Members of the Transfer Community will become leaders on campus and become involved at LMU right away, take a 1-unit Ignatian Leadership Course for both Fall and Spring Semesters, and have a peer support group to help navigate the University environment.

    Contact: Karen.Arizmendi@lmu.edu - 310.258.2626
    Housing: Palm South

  • Academic Community of Excellence (ACE)

    The Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) prepares students from historically underrepresented groups to pursue graduate and professional school. Students take classes and reside together (resident advisors and commuter students are exempt from living in McCarthy), attend conferences and social engagements, engage with faculty and alumni, and more. ACE students also practice the importance of serving others by mentoring high school students who are preparing for admission to college.

    Contact: ace@lmu.edu - 310.338.5348
    Housing: McCarthy Hall

    Arrupe

    Highlighting the Ignatian roots of the LMU Mission statement, the Arrupe LLC seeks to help students understand and intentionally live out this mission, grounding their education at LMU in creative, practical ways. Arrupe provides many opportunities that balance body, mind, heart, and spirit, as well as extracurricular opportunities for students to foster action and reflection in the midst of partnered academic and extracurricular settings facilitated by live-in staff according to Ignatian principles.

    Contact: Marc.Reeves@lmu.edu - 310.338.5708
    Housing: Palm South Apartments - Pod

    Esports

    The Esports Themed Community will focus on allowing gamers to live in community with a shared sense of purpose around gaming.   Countless games revolve around a multiplayer aspect; others, while singleplayer, build large online followings and communities coming together to enthuse about the game. By allowing students a living space to freely express and enthuse about their interests, we work to provide a sense of community in a scene that carries heavy external judgement. It may also prove valuable for those interested in the growing games industry in a multitude of fields such as computer science, acting and voice acting, graphic design and animation, and computer engineering. Not only does the community encourage hands-on-learning, skill building, and academic improvement, it also harnesses the cooperative aspect of life. 

    Members will gain experience in numerous skills such as:

    • Physical coordination
    • Interpersonal communication
    • Giving and receiving feedback
    • Teamwork
    • Problem solving and strategic thinking 

    Contact: michael.medina@lmu.edu
    Housing: Palm South Pod

    Gender Inclusive Living

    The Gender Inclusive Living Themed Community will aid all students with an interest in developing their understanding of the complex ways gender and identity shape the world around us and our experience of community. The program will provide the opportunity for 18 sophomore, junior and senior LMU students to live together in a housing pod in the palm quad community. The Theme Community will develop friendships, create student opportunities, and will provide a safe space for students to live comfortably. You will get the opportunity to be with this pod interacting in social material together, get to have highlighted resources from multiple admin and faculty, and will have a lovely space to call home.

    Requirements:

    • Must be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior

    Contact: stuart.moskovitz@lmu.edu or Student Housing - 310.338.2963
    Housing: Palm South Pod

    Global House

    The Global House provides students of different nationalities and diverse cultures with the opportunity to live and learn together in a community of mutual respect, understanding, and international friendship. The House consists of seven undergraduate students with an interest in intercultural competency and awareness. 

    Students are welcome to apply as an individual or in a roommate group of two people. Please note that acceptance to the Global House is not guaranteed for roommate groups, and applications will be considered on an individual basis.

    *You do not need to be an international student to apply for the Global House*

    Contact: oissprograms@lmu.edu - 310.338.2937
    Housing: Off Campus House

    Honors LLC 

    The University Honors Program operates the HONORS LLC, which aims to prepare students for a full and intellectual life. The program integrates the Honors program with a living and learning curriculum to maximize student's experience. Along with taking two courses in the academic year, members of the LLC will enjoy office hours with honors faculty and staff, allowing for more interaction than just the confines of the classroom. There are also extracurricular events (trips and events) facilitated by the University Honors program faculty and staff. Students must be enrolled in the Honors program to apply. 

    Requirements: 

    • Must be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior

    Contact: Nubia.Valenzuela@lmu.edu - 310.338.7349
    Housing: O'Malley Apartments

    Honors House 

    The Honors House is a center of community for all students, staff, and faculty in the University Honors Program. It also functions as a small Living-Learning Community for a select group of Honors sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Like the Honors LLC in O’Malley Apartments and the Honors First-Year LLC, Honors House LLC has an academic purpose. Residents of the Honors LLCs support one another beyond the classroom for the distinctive challenges of Honors courses. The group of students selected for Honors House are to serve as a model of community for the rest of the Honors Program. In line with this mission, this group has the responsibility of planning one event per semester that takes place at Honors House to which the entire Honors community is invited.

    Requirements: 

    • Must be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior

    Contact: Nubia.Valenzuela@lmu.edu - 310.338.7349
    Housing: Off Campus House 

    The Innovation Incubator LLC

    The Innovation Incubator LLC is designed to bring together students from all disciplines in a shared living environment that fosters organic collaboration, creativity, and venture creation. This LLC will serve as an interdisciplinary hub where students can explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and real-world problem-solving in a dynamic residential setting. 

    By immersing students in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, this LLC encourages the exchange of ideas, hands-on learning, and peer-driven innovation-mirroring the energy and collaboration seen in successful startup incubators. The community will provide an opportunity for students to build projects, share knowledge, and form lasting professional relationships through natural, everyday interactions.  

    Students in this LLC are required to take Blueprint for Innovation, an exploratory and hands-on class designed to help students identify emerging problems in business, technology, and society.  

    Requirements 

    • Must be an upperclassman
    • Enrollment, completion, and passing in the Blueprint for Innovation for two semesters.

    Contact: Dr. David Choi
    Housing: Palm South Apartments - Pod

    Service and Action House

    LMU students have a passion for service. Located in a house directly off-campus, the residents of the Service and Action House take that passion further by assuming leadership roles where their community service can make a powerful difference. The Service and Action House also places emphasis on Jesuit Volunteer Corps values by emulating the four pillars of spirituality, social justice, community, and simple living. House members participate in spirituality nights, reflection nights regarding social justice issues, service projects, and a variety of social justice and community events.

    Contact: Yadira.Napior@lmu.edu - 310.338.2959
    Housing: Off Campus House

    Service-Learning Community

    The Service Learning Community’s mission is to cultivate the next generations of leaders to be people With and for others. The SLC is primarily a sophomore and junior community where students engage in hands-on service in the Los Angeles community, learn together, and practice communal living.

    *You do not need to be a member of a Service Org to join this community.*

    Contact: Chelsea.Brown@lmu.edu - 310.338.1642
    Housing: Palm South Apartments - Pod

    Home Stretch Community

    Home Stretch is designed for students in their final semesters at LMU. Seniors who indicate an interest in Home Stretch will be manually assigned later in the process to an apartment in Leavey 5 that faces the LMU Bluff and provides a view of the Los Angeles basin from the Pacific Ocean to the Hollywood Hills. 

    Students should communicate with their roommate group if they will be expressing interest in Home Stretch. If anyone in the roommate group is not eligible for or does not also select Home Stretch, the Roommate Group will be split to place those eligible and interested in the Home Stretch community.

    Requirements: 

    • Must be a rising Senior

    Contact: Student Housing at housing@lmu.edu - 310.338.2963
    Housing: Leavey 5 Apartments

     

     

Additional Theme Housing Program Options at LMU

LMU also provides a variety of Themed Housing for students to live together and experience intentional programs and events around a particular theme without taking a class or other strict curricular requirement. Please see the Themed Communities webpage for more information.

Please contact Housing 310.338.2963 or e-mail Housing@lmu.edu for more info.