“We did things that are different than most classes,” King said. “We were able to understand new ways of learning and we did it with people we lived with and developed friendships in the process.”

King is one of 30 people involved in the First Year Living Learning Community that took over part of Wheeler Hall’s third floor this fall.

Wheeler Residence Hall Director Sara Olsztyn said the idea for the living community really came together, and the freshmen live and learn together.

Academic Residential Colleges • Business- Carey Hall • Education and Human Services- Calkins Hall • Health Professions- Emmons Hall • Music- Herrig Hall • Science and Technology- Woldt Hall Themed Residential Colleges • Athletic Management Programs Community - Saxe Hall • First Year Learning Living Community - Wheeler Hall • Global Village - Herrig Hall • Honors Program - Larzelere and Trout halls • Leader Advancement Scholars - Barnes Hall • Multicultural Advancement and Lloyd Cofer Scholars - Troutman Hall • Public Service Residential Community - Barnes Hall • Transfer Student Community - Kesseler and Kulhavi halls • Women in Leadership - Sweeney Hall

“We are in week eight, and the students are amazing standout students,” Olsztyn said. “Each building has a hall council, which is like the student government of the hall, and five of the nine executive board members are from the third-floor learning community.”

Students benefited a lot from living with the people they took classes with, said Commerce Township senior Elizabeth Sullivan, the resident assistant for the third floor and a peer mentor for the program.

Wisconsin freshman Amanda Brantner said the FYE class and living community has made her feel part of something.

“I love this community because we’re a giant family,” she said.

The FYLLC requires students take the First Year Experience class, ENG 101: Freshman Composition and MTH 105: Intermediate Algebra together and live together. The new residential college was advertised during orientation this past summer, Olsztyn said. She said there is no special incentive for this program or no additional cost for the students or the university.

“They don’t get anything from the university,” she said, “There are no scholarships or reduced occupancy in their room, it is students living on the same floor taking three classes together.”

More than education

After eight weeks of the class, the staff and students have developed a bond that goes beyond learning.

Last Wednesday, the students had their last FYE class together.

“It has helped my students a lot,” Sullivan said. “They have developed a real strong living community on the floor that will continue even after the class ends.”

Cedar freshman Devin Weber said he was a little concerned at first but, once the group started, he knew he made the right choice.

“After signing up I really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “But, once it started, it has been great. I am going to miss this class.”

Olsztyn teaches the required FYE class, and Sullivan is one of the mentors for the class. The students have developed a sense of belonging, they study and look out for each other, she said.

“Being the (resident assistant) and FYE peer mentor for this floor has been a very rewarding experience,” she said. “All my residents are super positive and they all take care of each other.”

Olsztyn said next year, they expect to have the entire third floor of Wheeler Hall filled with FYLLC students. No changes have been made for next year, but she thinks they may separate the RA from the peer mentor position next year.

“I think it was hard for the students to separate the two positions in their minds,” she said. “Their RA is fun but in class we still need times to be serious.”