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Which learning community is right for me?

Will a learning community narrow my Purdue experience?

Can I be a part of more than one learning community?

What is a residential component?

What are the different residential requirements for learning communities?

How do I fill out my housing contract if I'm applying to a learning community?

Am I automatically admitted to a learning community if I send in my application?

What co-curricular activities are required if I join a learning community?

Can I indicate who I would like my roommate to be?

If I'm an incoming student what if I apply or edit my application after the May 5th priority deadline?


Which learning community is right for me?

which is right

In order to make this decision, you need to decide what you want to get out of a learning community. Most learning communities include at least two to three academic courses within your academic major or program you have been admitted to at Purdue. These provide a great way for you to meet and learn with students who have similar academic interests. Other learning communities are based on a theme and are open to all, regardless of major. These communities furnish an opportunity to connect with students from many different academic backgrounds who share some common interests with you. Each learning community profile will explain the eligibility requirements and courses associated, when applicable, to help you decide. You can also contact the Residential Academic Initiatives office if you have specific questions about what learning community would be right for you! Your academic advisor can also help you determine your eligibility for certain learning communities.


Will a learning community narrow my Purdue experience?

will it narrow

Not at all! In most cases, you will be enrolled in at least two to three courses outside of the learning community, which will give you opportunities to interact with many other students. Your learning community will build a strong foundation for you, which will positively affect all of your experiences at Purdue.


Can I be a part of more than one learning community?

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Yes, in a few limited cases. If you are admitted to the College of Engineering, College of Science, Polytechnic Institute, of College of Agriculture and you are interested in the success of women in these fields, you are eligible to be considered for participation in the Women in Engineering Residential Program, the Women in Science Residential Program, the Women in Technology Residential Program, or Women in Agriculture Residential Program plus one of the other learning communities featured on this website.   


What is a residential component?

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Almost all learning communities have a residential component, meaning students have the opportunity to not only take classes together, but also live in the same residence hall.  This is a great way to live among peers who share similar interests. In addition, it provides natural study groups, social gatherings, and often learning community instructors will host events right there in the hall.

Incoming students please note, to live anywhere on campus, including in a learning community, you MUST complete a housing contract (which is different from the Learning Communities application) prior to completing a learning community application. However, to be considered during the learning community priority placement phase, you must have a housing contract signed by May 5th.  If you're not sure whether you have filed an application, please call University Residences at (765) 494-1000.


What are the different residential requirements for learning communities?

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Almost all learning communities have a residential component. Some learning communities allow students to still participate and not live with the learning community. In other cases students must live with the learning community in order to participate. Please see the profile page of the specific learning community for more information about that learning community's residential component.

Please note, all medical accommodations will be taken into consideration for learning community and housing placement decisions.


How do I fill out my housing contract if I'm applying to a learning community?

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For incoming students, when you complete your housing contract with University Residences, you will not know if you have been accepted into a learning community. That's okay. Fill out the contract and if you are placed in a learning community you will receive an assignment in the associated residence hall. If you are not placed in a learning community your housing contract preferences will be taken into consideration for your housing assignment.

For current Purdue students applying to residentially required learning communities you must renew your housing contract.  If you are placed into a learning community you will then be able to select a space within the learning community's designated residential area in the contract renewal portal.


Am I automatically admitted to a learning community if I send in my application?

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Placement in a learning community is determined by a comprehensive review of all applications to create optimal learning environments for each learning community. The learning community placement criteria include elements such as the Purdue college, school, major and/or program to which you are admitted or enrolled, and space availability. While you can list multiple options on your learning communities application to increase your likelihood of ultimately being enrolled in an learning community, you should only list options for which you have serious interest. If you are interested in only one community, list that community only. Space is limited. Submitting an application does not guarantee placement in a learning community.


What co-curricular activities are required if I join a learning community?

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In some cases, activities are required as they are connected with in-class coursework, such as attending a play and reflecting on it in a paper. Others may be purely social, like a pizza party, or even a casual study break with snacks, and your participation in these types of events is often voluntary, but strongly encouraged. The purpose of co-curricular activities is to get you quickly connected to your academic peers, faculty and staff, as well as the overall campus community. 


Can I indicate who I would like my roommate to be?

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Living and learning together is a hallmark of learning communities at Purdue. We reserve residential spaces for learning community participants to ensure members can live together, allowing them to bond as a group and create the best possible living and learning environments. If both you and your requested roommate apply and are placed in the same learning community, your request may be honored. As with all housing assignments, requesting a roommate does not guarantee that you will be placed with that person. May 5th is the deadline to request a roommate through the housing contract portal.


  If I'm an incoming student w hat if I apply or edit my application after the May 5th priority deadline?

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For incoming students May 5th is the priority application deadline to be placed in a learning community (although it does not guarantee placement). Applications submitted or modified after May 5th will be considered based on availability following the initial placement period.

Any More Questions?

Feel free to contact us at learningcommunities@purdue.edu or (765) 494-2020. 

Any other specific questions regarding housing should be directed to University Residences at (765) 494-1000.

Learning Communities  HILL 1301 3rd Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 - (765) 494-2020, learningcommunities@purdue.edu

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