Learning is deepest when it is personal.
When students connect what they are learning in the classroom to their own personal experiences, learning becomes a unique journey toward self-awareness. Northeastern State University provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in this journey through Living-Learning Communities. LLCs are small communities of first year students who live together and share common academic or co-curricular interests under the guidance of a peer mentor. Insights LLCs are only available to First-Year students and are specifically designed to help ease the academic and social transitions of First-Year students to the college environment by providing increased faculty interactions and mentorship within an academically supported living environment.
Currently, NSU offers two different Living-Learning Community programs within the Residence Halls—Insights and Nexus
Insights
Insights is an academic based community of first year students who live together and share common academic interests. Students residing within the Insight community take three classes together each semester and engage in co-curricular activities in the Residence Hall community, under the guidance of a peer mentor, to explore their interests further.
The Global Perspective Community—The Global Perspectives Living Learning Community explores different cultures from around the world from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students take classes such as World Music, Geography and Humanities, all of which count toward the fulfillment of general education requirements. In addition, students participate in weekly group discussions, group projects and programs within their Residence Hall to explore what they are learning in the classroom through their own personal experiences. Program examples include: “Cinema Life”, “Cultural Pot-Luck”, and “Diversity in Music”.
Want to learn about the world, but don’t know how to get started? Want to be part of something bigger? Join the Global Perspective Living Learning Community with University Housing and we will guide you to a better understanding of the world and help you develop into a global citizen. You will live together with other student in the program, take classes together, and participate in extracurricular opportunities to educate yourself and fellow students. We provide the option to participate in such classes as World Music, Comparative Religions, Geography, Group Dynamics, and Humanities. Examples of the out of class experience: you could help host a Pow-Wow, participate in a cultural pot luck, or watch and discuss films from around the world. In order to participate in this incredible opportunity, fill out the Global Perspectives Application (pdf) and return it to University Housing along with your Housing Contract.
Nexus
Nexus is a co-curricular Living-Learning Community program that provides upperclass students with the opportunity to create their own Living-Learning Communities within the Residence Halls. Students who share a common interest or focus reside in the same community and engage in regular activities that promote the exploration of their interest under the advisement of a faculty member, an academic department or Student Affairs.
Nexus Communities are student-initiated, student-constructed and student-lead Living-Learning Communities designed to empower students to create their own college experiences to compliment their academics. Currently, NSU supports four sorority communities, two fraternity communities, one athletic community and one student organization-based community.
Since Nexus Communities are developed by students, new communities are popping up all the time. If there is not a community that matches your interests, there is no reason why you cannot create one. Creating a Nexus Community is as simple as contacting the Assistant Director of Residence Life at willistd@nsuok.edu.