Research Shows...
Living-Learning Communities are considered a High-Impact Educational Practice by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, because they increase student engagement, retention, and persistence.
Research shows that students who participate in a Loyola Living-Learning Community report significantly higher ratings in:
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Intent to stay at Loyola
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Making friends and feeling connected to other students
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Overall learning in the residence halls
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Overall satisfaction with their residential experience
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Connection to faculty
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Access to peer role models and professional mentors
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Learning-focused conversations
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Leadership skills
(Sources: Residence Life Survey 2019, 2018, 20217, EBI Survey 2016-17, Survey of Integrated Living-Learning Programs 2016-17)
Additionally, peer-reviewed published research shows that students who participate in a Learning Community:
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Report higher overall engagement
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Graduate at higher rates
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Drink alcohol at lower rates and engage less in high-risk drinking
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Show higher gains in intellectual and social development
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Have more social interaction with peers
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Show increased gains in critical thinking and reading comprehension
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Have more interaction with faculty
(Selected Sources: Zhao and Kuh (2004), Brower, Golde, and Allen (2003), McCabe et al. (2008), Tinto (1999))