Express your individuality while building friendships and exploring your passions with a cohort of other students who share your interests.
Living-Learning Communities are open to the entire Å·ÃÀAV student body. The Office of Residential Life will work with you if you want to partake in these communities but have concerns about their accessibility.
Each Living-Learning Community (LLC) is staffed with an area coordinator, residential fellow and resident advisor. They also have an LLC liaison — a member of the faculty or staff or a department sponsor — who assists with programming efforts in that community.
Living-Learning Communities are open to all students. Residential life staff will work with you if you want to join a community but are concerned about accessibility.
Arts is a community designed to maximize residents’ creative capacity. Whether you are interested in theater, visual art, architecture, engineering film and/or creating music, students who elect to live in the Arts LLC are united by a passion for creating and a commitment to the arts. You do not need to be an artist or a performer to join; you just need a general curiosity about artistic expression.
APIDA is a community that is designed to support students who are of Asian-Pacific Islander-Desi American descent, identify within the Asian diaspora and/or wish to foster connections between different cultures within the diaspora. APIDA community residents are committed to developing a safe, supportive, and celebratory environment with particular regard to the complexities of being a student of Asian/Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Asian American descent at a predominantly white institution.
First Year Experience is a community that helps our new students get acquainted with the college and involved during their first year. Students are offered academic and social opportunities that help them form meaningful connections to the College community and find their niche at Å·ÃÀAV. This program is housed in MacGregor Hall, and many programs for our first-year students will happen there, making this building the hub for first-year activities and interactions. Students participating in this program will flourish during their first year.
Gloria Anzaldúa is a community that is designed to support students as they explore and express their whole selves, including their gender identities and sexualities, in a safer and affirming environment, with particular regard to centering and exalting the needs and experiences of queer and transgender people of color at a predominantly white institution. Our residents commit to advancing equality, justice and inclusiveness for the Gloria Anzaldúa community while celebrating similarities and embracing differences by cultivating space for community, healing and representation.
Interfaith is a community of students dedicated to learning, exploring and celebrating the diversity of religious, spiritual and socially just practices observed at Å·ÃÀAV and worldwide. Interfaith community residents desire to deepen their own values/mindful practices and explore the values of their community members with curiosity, and they respect seeking meaning and purpose. Residents are expected to participate in the community events that offer religious literacy and learning opportunities. All students, whether they practice a particular religion, are spiritual but not religious or are seekers, agnostic or atheist, are encouraged to apply.
Language is a community of students that promotes a supportive and congenial environment of language immersion for its residents by providing access to language assistants, faculty and staff who facilitate programs and activities that enhance students’ linguistic and cultural competence in their target language in order to help them thrive in a global society. Students of any ability level who are currently or will be enrolled in a language course taught in the language of the community for which they are applying will be eligible for this community.
All students who choose to live in this LLC will sign the Community Living Guidelines, pledging their commitment to participating in events that maintain an environment of immersion and cooperative learning.
Languages currently offered are Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, German and French.
Livin’ Free is a community that provides a positive atmosphere for students who respect each other’s choice to be committed to healthy habits and who abstain from substances such as alcohol, tobacco products, illicit drugs and the misuse of prescription medication. Individuals may choose this community based on personal or family history with substance use or addiction, personal or religious convictions or many other reasons.
This community provides an opportunity for students to live in a supportive environment with other like-minded students, where their specific lifestyle choice is respected. Students who choose to become Livin’ Free community members are expected to participate in a yearly retreat along with three additional Livin’ Free programs. Students will have the opportunity to participate in other programs and activities that are geared toward this commitment as well.
All students who choose to live in this LLC will sign the Community Living Guidelines, pledging their commitment to remaining substance free both in the residence and off campus.
Lyon’s Legacy Lyon’s Legacy is a community designed to support students as they explore and express their whole selves, including their gender identities and sexualities, in a safer and affirming environment that’s sensitive to the complexities that pertain to the historical and contemporary experiences of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people. Lyon’s Legacy community residents commit to fostering an environment that builds solidarity and honors the legacy of identities that transcend existing binary systems at an institution founded as a female seminary. The community is named after the Lyon’s Legacy Loan Fund, to provide assistance to MHC students who’ve lost support from their families for coming out as LBGTQIA+.
Lyons Nation is a community that is designed to support students who are varsity/club athletes and dancers striving for athletic and academic excellence. Lyons Nation community members are committed to creating an environment that celebrates the dedication required to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle as well as striving for academic excellence. Community residents support each other’s competitions and performances while encouraging school spirit among the larger college community.
Mary Woolley is a community that is designed to support students as they explore and express their whole selves, including their gender identities and sexualities, in a safer and affirming environment that’s sensitive to the complexities that pertain to the historical and contemporary experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, polysexual and allied people. Mary Woolley community residents commit to fostering an environment that builds solidarity and honors the heritage of identities that transcend existing binary systems and intersections of identities while working toward justice and equity for all.
This community is named after Mary Woolley, the eleventh president of Å·ÃÀAV. While Mary Woolley accomplished many feats in her 36-year term as president, today she is remembered for laying a foundation for LGBTQIA+ inclusiveness at the College.
Mi Gente is a community that is designed to support students who are of Latina/x descent, identify within the Latin American diaspora and/or wish to foster connections between different cultures within the diaspora. Mi Gente community residents are committed to developing a safe, supportive and celebratory environment with particular regard to the complexities of being a student of Latina/x descent at a predominantly white institution.
Mosaic is a community that is designed to support students who self-identify as people of color and express a commitment to creating an inclusive and socially just community that allows residents to learn, listen and share the many identities they embody. Mosaic community residents engage in cross-cultural dialogue, providing students with opportunities to explore and cultivate their academic, intellectual and cultural interests.
Outdoor Adventure is a community that is designed to provide students with an opportunity to take an active role in engaging in Å·ÃÀAV’s outdoor community. Outdoor Adventure residents will explore nature on campus and in the Connecticut River Valley. Various excursions such as walking, hiking, skiing, biking and snowshoeing will be planned with the goal of building teamwork and leadership skills. No previous experience is necessary. All students who chose to live in the Outdoor Adventure LLC commit to a willingness to participate, learn and grow.
Shirley Chisholm Shirley Chisholm is a community that is designed to support students who are of African descent, identify within the African diaspora and/or wish to foster connections between different cultures within the diaspora. Shirley Chisholm community residents are committed to developing a safe, supportive and celebratory environment that’s sensitive to the complexities of being a student of African descent at a predominantly white institution.
The community is named after Shirley Chisholm, a former professor of politics and sociology at Å·ÃÀAV. Before teaching at Å·ÃÀAV, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
The Office of Residential Life is responsible for the administration of — and student life in — the residence halls on campus at Å·ÃÀAV.