Seeking Edventure in a Living Learning Community
Written by Amber Manini
Every semester there is something new to look forward to. For most new freshman students it is the transition of adolescents into adulthood. Moving away from home, doing laundry on your own, taking college level courses and for some playing division II athletics. All of this can be a big transition for many of our new freshman and new transfer students. Continuing students are not out of the water either, transitioning into upper division courses getting closer to graduation.
This semester, UH Hilo underwent a bunch of changes with the opening of the new Student Services Center, construction at the Science and Technology building, and the creation of two new living and learning communities. The UH Hilo Freshman Village is the newest edition to our campus. The living learning community provides students with shared interests to live together in one of our residence halls, take a shared class together, and have outside-of-the-classroom experience in their shared area of interest.
“Students who are connected to their campus are more likely to be retained (stay at the institution) as well as persist to graduation. The Freshmen Village is designed to do just that. It gives students a unique living experience that connects them to other first year students, supports them academically, and sets them up in a community of peers with shared interests,” Said Jake Picus the associate director of UH Hilo New Student Programs.
Freshman living in the Hale Kehau Dormitories have been divided into two different communities; Health and Recreation, and Natural Science. There are currently twenty students in each cohort occupying two floor levels of Hale Kehau. All students in the cohorts share two common classes. In the fall, University 101, a course intended to increase first-time college students’ academic success and foster their social integration into the college environment. In the spring, English 100, providing students with an introduction to effective university writing skills.
The Freshman Village is similar to that of its sister dorm, Hale Kanilehua, UH Hilo’s Living Learning Center. Hale Kanilehua, released in Fall 2013, is designed specifically for Native Hawaiian Students from both UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College. Accommodating students with interests in Hawaiian Studies or Science, Technology, Engineering or Math programs (STEM).
UH Hilo Sophomore, Abcde Zoller, a resident in Hale Kanilehua recounts her experiences having been a resident there for two semesters. “I recall coming home to my room every afternoon and thinking to myself "I love how our dorm is one big ohana" That comfort of knowing you're never alone and have a family away from home felt good.” Zoller now lives off campus, plays on the soccer team, while maintaining three jobs and, taking a seventeen-credit load schedule. “Kanilehua has helped lessen my fears as a freshmen and empowers me to take charge of my future and enjoy doing it,” Zoller concludes.
UH Hilo finally has a perfect fit, a program helping support students in all aspects. It is said that students who learn with a community of support stay in college, earn a higher GPA and, experience a greater degree of satisfaction. Don’t try to take the world on alone and make UH Hilo your home.
For more information regarding UH Hilo Freshman Village please see the following link.
