FAQs

Does a LLC require more time from faculty? It depends. LLCs are a high-impact educational practice so often require more work from students and faculty alike. But the workload for LLC faculty can be lightened if making arrangements for additional academic support from a learning assistant (KSC 270), a peer student mentor funded by a grant, a departmental work-study student, or a student doing an independent study, practicum, or internship with an LLC. Likewise, teaching an LLC will not require more time from faculty who take advantage of pre-planned co-curricular events (e.g., college-sponsored guest speakers, performances, or art exhibitions, activities run by student clubs or departments, Residential Life programming, and even events in the City of Keene). Finally, a student RA (Residential Assistant) will be assigned to the LLC and will work with the faculty teaching the linked courses to support the co-curricular programming related to the LLC.

Can faculty teach an LLC but choose not to use one of the classrooms in the Commons building? It is advised that faculty teach their LLC courses in the Commons building since that state-of-the-art facility is specifically designed for this purpose. However, there may be other academic reasons for why an LLC should be taught in a different building on campus, such as to access special technology, lab, or studio space that faculty in a particular discipline need to teach the course. If this is the case, then faculty can note this issue on the 2018-2019 LLC Proposal Form.

What is the typical size/cap for an LLC? 20-27 students. The size of an LLC at Keene State College corresponds to the number of beds available on each hall of the Commons building as well as the capacity of the three classrooms in the Commons building. For example, one hall/wing of the building houses 27-29 first-year students and one RA, while classroom #124 caps at 24 students, classroom #126 caps at 20 students, and classroom #129 caps at 27 students. Caps for LLC classes can be smaller than 20 but it is more problematic for them to be much larger than 27.

Are students required to take both the fall and the spring course? When signing up for an LLC, first-year students commit to enrolling in both the fall and spring course since they are thematically linked. However, like all students, LLC students can choose to drop/withdraw from a LLC course at any time.  But also like any other student at Keene State College, LLC students can only move housing/out of the Commons building by following Residential Life protocol to request a change in housing, which is not always guaranteed. Students are pre-registered over the summer into the fall course when signing up for the LLC, and then they are pre-registered into the linked spring LLC course before spring registration begins.

Does the same faculty member have to teach both LLC courses? No. Two different faculty can teach the LLC, with one assigned to be the instructor of record for the fall course and another assigned to be the instructor of record for the spring linked course. However, a single faculty member can teach both the fall and spring courses if that works for their academic program and schedule.

What if the LLC doesn’t enroll a lot of students by the end of June? Occasionally, an LLC does not enroll enough students to fill. Variables include (but are not limited to) the size of the college’s first-year class or attrition related to roommate selection. Residential Life has the primary role of determining what to do with under-enrolled LLCs but will consult with LLC faculty teaching the courses, department chairs and academic program supervisors, and deans to determine next steps.

How does Residential Life work with LLCs? Resident directors and student residential assistants have the same responsibility and authority as they do for all other residents. A residential assistant (RA) will be assigned to the LLC and will work with the faculty teaching the linked courses to support the academic and co-curricular program. RAs are already required to organize events for their halls that are themed around “Diversity and Social Justice,” “Health and Wellness,” “Academic Success,” and “Community Involvement.” RAs often collaborate with other RAs in the building to run these programs and they strategically plan the programming for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings each month so students have alternative options to partying. Some of the community events are called “passive programming” because they utilize bulletin boards, walls, screens, and other common space in the residential hall to educate students without them realizing it. RAs are also required to meet one-on-one (called “individualized interactions” or “iis”) with each student on their hall four times during the academic year. Finally, they hold “floor meetings” six times throughout the academic year (two at the beginning of each semester, two before Thanksgiving and Spring Break, and two at the end of each semester). Faculty can collaborate with RAs on the programming listed above to integrate these events into their courses. However, faculty are not expected to perform any duties related to roommate conflicts, room changes, or other residential functions. If faculty have concerns about LLC students that are related to the student’s academic, personal, physical, or emotional well-being, they should reach out to the KSC CARES team.

Is there funding for faculty to draw on to support their LLC? Yes. There is a budget set aside specifically for the LLC program at Keene State College. For more details, see the funding section of the webpage titled Resources to Support LLCs.

How will incoming first-year students learn about and sign up for an LLC? Prospective first-year students are introduced to the LLCs by the Admissions Office, the Office of Marketing and Communications, and the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services. For example, campus tours, open houses, admitted student days, and summer orientation sessions will highlight the LLCs. Residential Life also promotes the LLCs on its website. Incoming first-year students sign-up to live in the Living and Learning Commons building and take the linked LLC courses on their housing application which launches in early February when they are “moved to student” at Keene State College after being admitted. Students participating in LLCs are pre-registered in the LLC linked courses offered in the fall semester and before the official registration period begins for the spring semester (unless they have a hold on their accounts).

Are LLCs assessed? The LLC Oversight Committee will  use data from the college’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment to assess the LLCs. Other data will be collected by the LLC Oversight Committee on faculty experience, student retention, and student performance.