TO: Elizabeth Ching-Bush, Assistant Dean of Students; Justin McCauley, Director of Residence

Life and Housing; Danielle Johnson, Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing

FROM: Cameron Ramos, Graduate Assistant for Living-Learning Communities

DATE: March 6, 2020

SUBJECT: Initial Findings from the Living-Learning Community Survey

Hello everyone. I am writing to you today to inform you that I have received the results from the
Living-Learning Community survey that I conducted. I am still analyzing all of the results, but I
did want to highlight some initial reactions. Below, you will find the survey that was sent out to
our Living-Learning Community Students. I created the survey using qualtrics, and the results of
each question can also be found below. Following the survey will be my initial reactions to the
findings, and how I think we should move forward with the results. I hope that we can discuss
this further when we meet soon.

2019-20 Living-Learning Community Survey

You are being asked to participate in a survey conducted through Bridgewater State University's
Office of Residence Life and Housing. In this survey you will be asked questions regarding your
participation in the Living-Learning Community (LLC) program. Your responses are important to
us as it will be used to improve the LLC program for the future. Your responses will remain
confidential. Should you have any questions that require a response, please email the Office of
Residence Life and Housing at reslife@bridgew.edu or Cameron Ramos at
c2ramos@student.bridgew.edu.

Do you agree to take part in this survey?

- Yes
- No

I am a…
- First-Year Student
- Sophomore
- Junior
- Senior

I currently live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC)

- Yes
- No

Please select which LLC you live in:

- Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics LLC
 - Community Engagement LLC
- First-Year Honors LLC
- Lavender LLC
- Music Majors and Minors LLC
- Sustainability LLC
- Upper- Level Honors LLC

How many LLC programs have you attended since September 2019?
- Unknown
- 0
- 1-3
- 4-6
- 7-9
- 10+

If you answered that you have attended at least one LLC program since September
2019, please select how much you agree or disagree with the following statement:
“I find that the LLC programs that the Programming Assistant(s) host has added value to
my LLC experience.”

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

I can name the Programming Assistant who creates programs for my LLC
- Yes
- No

Do you attend a class as a part of your LLC?

- Yes
- No

If you answered yes to the above question, please select with how much you agree or
disagree with the following statement:
“I find that the class adds value to my LLC experience”
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Disagree

For the following statements, please select with how much you agree or disagree with the
following statements
I enjoy being a part of a LLC

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

Being a member of a LLC has added value to my experience as a student at BSU

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

I feel a part of my LLC’s community

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

Being a part of the LLC has given me a close group of friends

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

Being a part of a LLC has helped me to connect with a faculty and/or staff member on campus

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

Being a part of a LLC has given me a sense of belonging

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree

What is your favorite aspect about living in a LLC?

________________

If you could change one thing about my LLC, what would you do?
________________

How could your LLC be improved for the remainder of the year?
________________
What kind of programs/events would you like to see happen this Spring for your LLC?
________________

Please enter your Banner ID below. Your responses to this survey’s questions will not be tied
back to your Banner ID. Banner IDs are only collected so that we are able to randomly select a
winner of the $20 flex dollar prize.
_________________

Initial Reactions

1. A majority of our students have only attended 1-3 programs since they became a
Livining_learning Community student in September 2019. In the future, I believe that a
greater emphasis should be placed on how we advertise our programs, and make sure
that we host programs that students want to attend, and that work with their schedule.
2. 40% of students who took the survey could not name who their programming assistant
was for their learning community. Perhaps each semester, the programming assistants
can work with the resident assistants on their floors to perform knock and talks where
they check in with each individual student in the learning communities, so that students
get to know them better.
3. Over 75% of students said that they either somewhat agree, agree, or strongly agree
that they enjoy being a part of a learning community, which seems very positive.
4. Over 20% of students responded that they strongly disagree, disagree, or somewhat
disagree with the statement “I feel part of my LLC’s community.” While this number is not
very large, it does concern me that one fifth of our students do not feel a part of their
community. Perhaps we can explore this further with focus groups?
5. When asked “what is your favorite aspect about living in a LLC, many students
mentioned that they met friends in their LLC, and they liked the people who lived on the
floor with them.

Moving Forward

I would like to try and schedule a time where we are able to meet and discuss the findings
further. I would also like to break down the survey responses based on the learning
communities that each student identified with, so that we can meet with that community’s faculty
partner and discuss the results with them. This should be able to help our office and the faculty
partner explore new ways to improve upon the Living-Learning Community program in the
future.