In the fall of 2014, Elon University implemented residentially-linked courses as a part of the Residential Campus Initiative in an effort to promote engaged, collaborative learning among first-year students living in similar parts of campus. Of the 1,497 first-year students at Elon, 960 were enrolled in residentially-linked classes last semester.
According to Connie Book, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, there is a correlation between residence life and academic performance.
“Research shows that students who live and learn together are more inclined to talk about their readings outside of class,” Book said. “These students live in the same area and eat in the same dining halls meaning that they can create relationships around the work.”
Elon is trying to emulate successful institutions like Yale University, which utilizes residential colleges to help students learn with students that live close to one another.
After the conclusion of the fall semester, the overall effectiveness of the residentially-linked classrooms is in good standing with many first year students who were enrolled in these courses. COR 110 (The Global Experience), ENG 110 (Writing: Argument and Inquiry) and MTH 110 (General Statistics) are the residentially linked classes that are currently provided for first-year students during their first semester at Elon.
“[My linked course was] a warm environment where I recognized the faces of my classmates on the first day,” first-year Callahan Allen said. “If I needed help with an assignment, all I had to do was walk through the halls of my dorm and knock on a few doors.
The curriculum for these classes remained the same in comparison to previous years, but there were a few adjustments that were made to better the discussions.
Professor of English and Education Janet Warman was involved in the introduction of residentially-linked classes as she taught ENG 110 in the Historic Neighborhood during the fall semester. To take full advantage of her residentially linked class, Warman tailored the first assignment to match the history and traditions theme of the Historic Neighborhood.
“At the end of the semester far more people said that they had talked with other students outside of class than I ever imagined,” Warman said.
Over the next few years, Elon is planning to enhance the program by increasing the number of residentially linked courses provided.
“We are becoming a more residential campus because we want to create relationships that will last a lifetime,” Book said. "We want to make a greater impact on the students’ education that they are paying for at Elon University.”