Fourth-year student Sesily Stewart enjoys the family feel of the Engineering Living Learning Community. Sharing meals and studying together is a common practice among residents.
Stewart, who is studying material sciences and engineering, decided to live in the LLCs this year to stay close to campus. Stewart is taking a lot of classes and holds a job on campus, so she enjoys the quick access to various locations on campus.
“I ended up staying because I really enjoyed the atmosphere there,” Stewart said.
Stewart said people with a desire to stay on campus and live around people with similar interests should consider living in the LLCs. Students are still provided with support. For instance, posters advertising study groups and tutor times can be found next to the elevator in the Engineering LLC.
“You don’t have to be a specific type of person per say,” Stewart said. “But the type of people who are more focused on their classes than everything else (will enjoy the LLCs).”
Stewart said she has enjoyed getting to know her roommates the past two years.
“Currently, I have two (roommates) from China,” Stewart said. “Last year I had one from Nigeria and one from Japan. It’s a different group of people and they’re all very fun to talk to. We all have our classes and we compare and contrast, lend notes occasionally.”
There are eight LLCs to choose from, as listed on the UI website. Upham is for first-year students only. Gem, Syringa, Sage and Gault are for sophomores and older. The College of Natural Resources and Engineering LLCs are limited to students within their respective colleges. The Scholars LLC is only open to students in the honors program.
LLCs are configured into suites of rooms that share a living space, kitchenette and bathroom. The kitchenette includes a microwave, refrigerator, freezer and small sink. The bathroom includes a shower, toilet and sink.
Each LLC shares a lounge space, laundry room, large kitchen, game room and several study rooms. The large kitchens feature two ovens with stove tops, a microwave and a large sink. Game rooms vary by LLC. The Engineering LLC features a TV, pool table and a foosball table.
The UI website said a double room will cost $2,575 per semester while a single room will cost $3,305 per semester in the 2019 to 2020 academic school year. Costs vary by academic year, so prices may change in coming years.
“If you’re wanting to stay on campus but you’re wanting to have a group of people with a similar interest to you, (you should consider the LLCs),” Stewart said. “Some of the LLCs have different colleges, so you’ve got the honors program, engineering and natural resources and you actually tend to get most of the people in there.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]