Students have the opportunity to take part in a living and learning community recently started at Northwest Missouri State University.

The Living and Academic Learning Communities at Northwest are geared toward first time students or incoming freshman.

“(Students) would be placed on a floor with other students that have those similar majors and interests and be able to not only live and interact with them but take some of the same classes, get to know your professors even better,” Northwest Assistant Director of Admissions Ashley Barber said. “It’s really an opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and in that living setting.”

The program started last fall with the communities including Agricultural Sciences, Business and Natural Science. Next fall they will launch communities for Computer Science and Elementary Education majors.

Barber said the advantage of the communities is that students can connect with peers, not just in a classroom setting.

“You’re getting to know them in a personal laid back atmosphere where you can maybe get out of that shell, acclimate easier to campus,” Barber said. “This gives the students the opportunity to really own their own education. Students make those connection with peers and really drive their own learning and not in that traditional setting.”

To learn more about the Living and Academic Learning Communities at Northwest, click here.