Conference Presentation Resources

This session the product of a collaborative effort, bringing together practitioners from Ball State Living-Learning Communities and industry engagement. This model is an interdivisional perspective on opportunity areas, emphasizing the importance of industry and community stakeholders in connecting with students through immersive experiences. Through community-engaged learning, we address the learning inequalities that arise from background and class differences and student career development outcomes through place-based learning (Holmes, 2024). This collaborative approach offers practical benefits for internal and external funding to support immersive pedagogy to create pathways for increased buy-in from stakeholders through student engagement with the community and region.

• Session Handout Here

1. Local Place-based Learning at Whitely Community and the Education Living-Learning Community (Photos Only)

2. Social Sciences and Education Living-Learning Communities visit the Indiana Statehouse (Photos and Narrative)

3. Former CFO of the Indianapolis Colts visits Business Living-Learning Community students (Photos Only)

You can find the Ball State Living-Learning Community Website at bsu.edu/housing/llc

Presenters: Garrett Tur, Jeff Eads, and Dixie Denton, Ball State University

This session is a collaborative effort, bringing together practitioners from Ball State Living-Learning Communities, Teachers College, and the Office of Industry Engagement. We aim to provide an interdivisional perspective on opportunity areas, emphasizing the importance of industry and community relations stakeholders in connecting with students through intentional and immersive experiences. Through community-engaged learning, we address the learning inequalities that arise from background and class differences and student career development outcomes through place-based learning (Holmes, 2024). This collaborative approach offers practical benefits for internal and external funding to support immersive pedagogy. It creates a pathway for increased buy-in from community and industry partners through student engagement with the community and region.

Presenters: Garrett Tur, DeAnna Katey, Melissa Foreman, and Pam Geddes, Ball State University, Virginia Tech, University of Connecticut, Northeastern Illinois University

Through a panel with representatives from four universities in different geographic areas with distinct student bodies, we will provide our perspectives on how we build and cultivate a sense of belonging in the Living Learning Communities programs at our respective institutions. Although several similarities exist among our approaches, many differences make each institution unique. Looking closer at the strategies and methods we use to build that sense of belonging will allow us to share what works well and the challenges we face when implementing this work. In attending this session, attendees will gain a high-level understanding of how the institutional contexts of our practices led to the sense of belonging strategies we utilize-scaling practices through conversations and dialogue with different institutional contexts and partners.

At Ball State University, the innovative Signature Experience LLC Model integrates curricular and co-curricular elements to amplify student learning and growth. This model was designed to address a high demand for residential spaces designed for the cluster community LLC model that is at Ball State. These large (100-500) student clusters of shared majors, aligned with their corresponding academic college, already have positive retention and GPA outcomes, and this model strives to ensure equitable access to co-curricular activities and intentional programming while using student demand to recruit class sections. In partnership with an academic partner the demand results in minimal risk of unfilled bed spaces or class seats while remaining flexible enough not to require additional financial investment from either partner.

To facilitate implementation, attendees will receive guidance on establishing partnership goals and leveraging housing led LLC programs for academic connection. This session will provide resources and best practices for integrating classroom curriculum with residential life, drawing from Learning Community Scholarship, specifically (Inkelas et al., 2018; 2024).

The Signature Experience Model represents a paradigm shift. By aligning strategies, fostering collaboration, and leveraging student demand for specific housing, professionals can enhance the current LLC experience, while retaining autonomy over their structure.

Join us at the Student Success Summit for an insightful panel discussion on advancing student success through strategic industry engagement. This session will feature esteemed panelists: Garrett Tur (Area Coordinator for Living-Learning Communities), Jeff Eads (Director for Industry Engagement), Jim McAtee (Assistant Vice President and Executive Director for Career and Professional Development), and Joel Bynum (Senior Associate Director for Housing and Residence Life), with Becca Polcz Rice (Vice President for Governmental Relations and Industry Engagement) serving as moderator.

This discussion will elucidate the critical role of Ball State University's comprehensive ecosystem in fostering career readiness and student success. The Living-Learning Community (LLC) program at Ball State is designed to integrate academic and career-related experiences, providing a seamless pathway from classroom learning to practical application. This is achieved through structured visits to local businesses and industries, offering students valuable exposure to potential career trajectories.

We will also explore how the Ball State Career Center infuses NACE competencies and essential skills into the student experience, thereby enhancing professional preparedness. Furthermore, the Indiana Connections Lounge will be highlighted as a vital hub for facilitating meaningful engagements between students and industry, addressing educational disparities, and promoting equitable career development.

This session underscores the collaborative approach that not only enhances student outcomes but also secures internal and external funding to support innovative pedagogical practices. The discussion will demonstrate the mutual benefits for community and industry partners, reinforcing their commitment to engaging with students and enriching the broader regional ecosystem.

At Ball State University, the innovative Signature Experience LLC Model integrates curricular and co-curricular elements to amplify student learning and growth. This model was designed to address a high demand for residential spaces designed for the cluster community LLC model that is at Ball State. These large (100-500) student clusters of shared majors, aligned with their corresponding academic college, already have positive retention and GPA outcomes, and this model strives to ensure equitable access to co-curricular activities and intentional programming while using student demand to recruit class sections. In partnership with an academic partner the demand results in minimal risk of unfilled bed spaces or class seats while remaining flexible enough not to require additional financial investment from either partner.

To facilitate implementation, attendees will receive guidance on establishing partnership goals and leveraging housing-led LLC programs for academic connection. This session will provide resources and best practices for integrating classroom curriculum with residential life, drawing from the Learning Community Scholarship, specifically (Inkelas et al., 2018; 2024).

The Signature Experience Model represents a paradigm shift. By aligning strategies, fostering collaboration, and leveraging student demand for specific housing, professionals can enhance the current LLC experience while retaining autonomy over the LLC structure.