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The Living Learning Program consists of Residence Learning Communities and Learning Clusters, each having an intentional curriculum design. The program is designed to extend opportunities for learning and development beyond the classroom.
A Residence Learning Community (RLC) is a themed residence community where students live on the same floor and share a common interest, major or coursework.
Learning Clusters (LCs) provide students with the opportunity to engage in programming with others who share a common interest while living in a traditional residence community. Students participating in a Learning Cluster will be placed in the same residence building on different residence floors, participate in their own floor's programming, but have the added benefit of tailored programming based on the theme of their Learning Cluster.
RLC and LC residents need to be active members of the community who positively contribute to the growth and support of their peers. Each RLC and LC has specific admission requirements and criteria.
If you are interested in applying for one of the RLCs or LCs, you will need to complete the Residence Learning Communities/Clusters section within the online residence application, and answer the three questions.
Your completed residence application must be submitted by the June 1 deadline.
Selections and placements will be completed in mid to late July. You will be notified by email if you are successful in receiving a space in an RLC or LC.
There is a cost of $60 due upon move-in for members of RLCs and LCs to cover the costs of learning experiences throughout the year.
Do you want to see first-hand how you can use your business or economics degree after university?
Do you want to meet other students from your program and help each other succeed in first year?
Do you want to network and meet professors, alumni, and business leaders after hours in fun and casual settings?
As a Business & Economics RLC student, you’ll be immersed in a close-knit community that brings your learning from the classroom to the walls of residence so you can hit the ground running in today’s world. At Laurier, we like to say you don’t just get a business degree, you live a Laurier business degree. Meaning you are going to be tackling real-world problems, rubbing shoulders with awesome alumni and participating in training that will help you think critically! In this RLC you’ll be surrounded by people with the same interests, goals, drive, and excitement within the heart of Waterloo Region, down the street from one of the largest start-up ecosystems in Canada! Combine all those elements together and you have the perfect combination of people, experiences, and opportunity ahead of you. Not sure how to apply for Co-op or make a LinkedIn account? No, problem! Your RLC Don has you covered.
Do you feel a desire to make a difference in the world and want to meet others who feel just as passionate as you are?
Do you want to learn the tools for changemaking so you are equipped to change the world for the better?
Have you been part of, or do you want to be part of, local community initiatives or projects that are working to affect change in your own city or our own Canadian backyard?
As a Changemakers RLC student, you’ll live within a community of invested, passionate, driven and creative innovators like yourself, who want to test the boundaries of the status quo and make a difference in the world around them. There is so much work to be done to tackle the world’s most complex problems such as climate change, poverty, disease, human rights violations, social and environmental justice, racism, hunger and famine, and more. We need people like you who feel compelled, or at the very least care about, what the future holds and want to be armed with the confidence and skills to create a sustainable future for us all.
Laurier is one of only seven AshokaU Changemaker campuses in Canada, meaning social innovation is a core value within our programs and our students. You’ll find community engagement opportunities woven throughout the fabric of our school and the interests of our students, which start right away in the Changemakers RLC. Here, you can also contribute to Laurier’s culture of social innovation while being mentored by upper year students, professors, and start-up founders who happen to be Laurier alumni. Together, with the changemakers on your floor, you’re not only going to learn what you need to do to be successful in university, but you’re going to be driven to change the world around you.
Are you a Faculty of Music major who is interested in making fast friends in your program who play different instruments?
Do you want to live, work and have access to rehearsal space in the comfort of your own room?
Do you want to meet established musicians and alumni who have been in your shoes starting out?
As a Faculty of Music RLC student in Clara Conrad Hall, you’ll be steps away from the music building, surrounded by other musicians, creators and enthusiasts who love using music to share stories and experiences like you. Within this community, you’ll have the chance to meet real-world musicians who can share their wisdom and skills, professors who can teach you the fundamentals, and upper-year mentors who love music as much as you do! Regardless of what your long-term goals are with your music such as being a teacher, music therapist, music historian, composer, conductor and more - We’ll try to help you start out on the right foot. Your RLC Don will be an upper year music student who has experienced everything you’re about to go through (masterclasses, facilitation, recitals, theory tests) and has built connections that will get you where you want to go, with the support of a close-knit, fun and musically inclined community space.
Do you want to see first-hand how you can use your science degree beyond your undergraduate degree?
Do you want to meet other students from your program, learn how to write lab reports, have study buddies for exams and help each other succeed in first year?
Do you want to network and meet professors, alumni and upper-year students after hours in fun and casual settings?
In the Science RLC, you’ll be exposed to world-leading research to foster career exploration and networking opportunities. Whether you’re a Psychology student who wants to learn how the mind works; or you’re a Health Sciences student who wants to go into medicine; or maybe you want to jump into Computer Science and learn how to code and write algorithms that will help Google with their cyber security, this RLC is for you. You’ll benefit from being among other science students because you’ll be registered in similar courses throughout your first-year and will build connections with students outside of the classroom. In the Science RLC, you’ll create connections with upper-year mentors, known as RLC Dons, who are also science majors and are trained to deliver programming that aligns with your coursework. Their job is to provide you with the stepping stones you need to excel in first-year and beyond.
Do you have a desire to be creative and want to try your hand at film-editing, acting and production?
Do you want to be in a community of like-minded people who share the same interests and passions for film, media creation and storytelling?
Do you love movies so much that award shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes are an annual event for you?
As a Film & Media RLC student, you’ll be immersed in a community of innovators and creative thinkers who are unified in their passion for the extraordinary impact of film and media. From Rocky Horror Picture Shows at the local Princess Cinema to intriguing independent film showings at the Apollo Theatre, the Waterloo Region and surrounding area are home to some of the best independent theatres and productions that will allow you to dive into your passion for film. You’ll get to travel to places, engage with the owners, and get a private tour to learn more about how these landmarks have become a part of Waterloo and the surrounding area. As an RLC student, you’ll build relationships with the professors who can get you into the world of film and media. From writing publications to directing films, this RLC is for you!
Are your long-term goals focused on going to medical school and becoming a doctor, but you’re not sure how to get there?
Do you love helping people and believe that a career in healthcare after university will feel meaningful?
Are you nervous about what first-year coursework will look like in university and you’re hoping you find a community of friends who will help you through?
As a a Healthcare RLC student, you’re going to be exposed to what career possibilities exist in healthcare while working alongside all science students who are taking the same courses as you (insta-study buddies? We think so!). The field of healthcare is much larger than one career pathway as a physician and we want to show you the opportunities ahead of you: Nursing, Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Paramedic, Health Administration, Research, Virology (we don’t need to tell you how important that job has been since 2020), and so much more. Your RLC Don will be an upper year science student who has done it all, from writing lab reports, to studying for the MCAT, to building friendships with others in their classes, they’ll help you to do the same as you decide your future career path.
Do you want to know more about the people, forces, and events that have made us who we are today?
Are you fascinated by how states have risen and fallen over the years or how wars have been won and lost? Or are you interested in how regular people have lived their lives at different points in history?
Are you anxious about adjusting to the demands of university-level work? Do you have questions about what writing a university-level essay will be like and how you'll manage all of your courses?
Do you want to experience your first year in an especially supportive residence environment with other students who like History?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then take a deep dive into the past with Laurier's Historical Worlds RLC! Your are eligible for this RLC as long as you are taking 1.0 credits (two courses) of History in your first year. We have a number of first-year courses on offer each term. You choose whichever two courses interest you the most.
Students enrolled in the Historical Worlds RLC will have the option to participate in a field course to Poland on the subject of the Holocaust. This field course is called HI288, Into that Darkness: Poland, World War Two, and the Holocaust.
Are you someone who feels inspired by movement and more energized when you're active?
Do you have a fitness or wellness activity that drives everything you do, and you can't imagine your life without it?
Do you think it's important to take care of your body AND mind?
As a Recreation & Wellness RLC student, you are going to be surrounded by others who understand the importance of taking care of themselves through movement, exercise and mindfulness. How many times have you felt inspired after you hit a new personal record (PR) in the gym, felt the thrill of testing your limits in a new outdoor activity, or fell in love with movement through the practice of yoga and dance? Imagine feeling that emotion every day with the people you live with you.
In this community, you'll find people like you who want to better themselves physically and mentally through daily movement and practice. In partnership with our Athletics and Recreation department, this community will have full access to the resources and facilities available for future athletes, gym-goers, teammates, or those simply focused on maintaining a balanced lifestyle that will help them through first-year.
Are you interested in discovering your leadership philosophy while living in residence?
Are you passionate about developing your interpersonal skills and ability to work with people?
Are you looking to participate in a residence community that explores the importance of collaboration and inclusive leadership?
The LEAD (Learn, Engage, Develop and Act) Residence Learning Community is tailored to developing leadership skills in our first-year student, and encourage them to discover their leadership philosophy, their values, understand relationship dynamics with family, friends, peers, mentors, and colleagues, and how to use obtained leadership skills in residence, academics, and extracurriculars. As a first-year student in the LEAD RLC, you will learn what leadership means to you. The Residence Learning Community has facilitated learning experiences that are designed to inspire, challenge, and develop first-year students by providing tools for leadership development, practice-based learning of leadership, such as participating in the Leadership Certificate workshops, and learning how to apply this in your day-to-day life, with peers in a community living environment and exploring the value of inclusive leadership.
Are you registered in the Business & Technology Management program at Laurier?
Are you passionate about solving real-world business problems?
Are you looking to explore business and technology opportunities outside of the classroom?
The Business Technology Management (BTM) Learning Cluster is a program-specific experience offered to students enrolled in the BTM program and living in residence. In collaboration with faculty and campus partners, the BTM Learning Cluster supplements learning in the classroom with engaging social and educational programs outside the classroom. With the help of the Learning Cluster Advisor (an upper year BTM student) students will work together throughout the year to build community and friendships. The facilitated learning experiences are designed to develop critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, collaboration skills, inspire students, and provide tools for success in the program.
Are you the friend who always knows the perfect game to play for any occasion?
Do you want to be a community-builder in your residence and bring people together?
Do you want to design and create your own games or learn more about some of your favourites?
As a first-year student in the Game Changers Learning Cluster, you will connect with peers who share your passion for game innovation and design and connect with peers over a shared passion for gaming. Complimenting your coursework in the Game Design and Development or User Experience Design programs, you will explore different ways that games create excitement, can be used as educational tools, and build community. With the guidance of the Learning Cluster Advisor, an upper-year student in the Game Design and Development or User Experience Design programs, you will get experience building and testing your own games and analyzing the different components that make games feel fun, challenging, and rewarding to play.
Are you a future lawyer who's planning on studying both at home and overseas through the Laurier-Sussex exchange program?
Do you want an early start at getting to know the classmates who are planning on going abroad with you?
Do you want extra practice analyzing cases, understanding the Canadian justice system and discovering which branch of law you might be most interested in?
As a first-year student in the Laurier-Sussex Law Learning Cluster, you will meet classmates who are also interested in studying law overseas in Sussex. In addition to getting to know one another, you will also hear from other students who are currently overseas and learn more about what the program is like from people who are participating themselves. With the guidance of the Learning Cluster Advisor, an upper-year Laurier-Sussex Law student, first-year students will develop strategies to develop confidence in case studies, assignments, midterms and final exams, and learn key strategies to be a successful pre-law student.
Are you registered in the Bachelor of Social Work program at Laurier?
Are you passionate about human rights and social justice that empowers members of society?
The Social Work (BSW) Learning Cluster is a program-specific experience offered to Laurier-Brantford students enrolled in the BSW program and living in residence. With the guidance of the Learning Cluster Advisor, an upper-year BSW student, first-year students will work together throughout the year to build community, focus on the balance of academic and social programming, and connect students to campus and community resources.
The Learning Clusters’ facilitated learning experiences are designed to inspire, challenge, and develop first-year students by providing tools for success in the program, and explore the practice-based learning of BSW, which includes: the principles of human rights and social justice to empower members of society, particularly those who are disadvantaged by the social dynamics of class, race, gender, age, and ability.