Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) engage students with similar academic goals or shared interests in a unique living environment, giving them common ground with others in their community before they even arrive on campus. Residents enjoy exclusive activities, opportunities, and courses that cater to their interests, along with increased interaction with campus faculty. Academic LLCs are geared toward students with a shared academic goal or major who may take a common course together. Shared Interest LLCs are for students with a common interest or activity.
Academic LLCs
We seek to give students every possible opportunity to succeed and are excited to offer residents further development opportunities through our many distinct Academic Living-Learning Communities (LLC). These programs provide residents with access to educational programs and extracurricular activities exclusive to each LLC. Each community is unique, with specific requirements and living arrangements. Students select certain communities during online room selection, while others require a separate application and acceptance into that program before assignment. Read the following information, and contact LLCs or the HRC main office if you have any questions.
Application deadlines differ among LLCs. Please be aware of application requirements and deadlines if interested in an LLC.
Blount Scholars Program
Community Features/Requirements: Faculty-in-Residence and common classes
Eligibility and How to Apply: Students must be accepted to the Blount program. There is a separate application for this community.
The Blount Scholars Program provides students with a specialized Living-Learning environment. Located in Blount Hall, built specifically for this community, scholars reside within a building containing classrooms, fellow Blount program members, and a Faculty-in-Residence. For more information call Murrie Dixon at 205-348-1706 or email at murrie.j.dixon@ua.edu.
BRIDGE
Community Features/Requirements: Monthly events, faculty/staff mentor, peer mentor, shared academic course
Contact: 205-348-2408 or bridgeprogram@ua.edu
Eligibility and How to Apply: Must be a first-year student and participant in the BRIDGE program. There is a separate application for this community.
BRIDGE is an academic support program at The University of Alabama for undergraduate men. Through a community interested in exploring the historical experience of Black and Hispanic/Latino students at UA, the BRIDGE program provides academic support through peer-led mentorship, mandatory study halls, one-on-one coaching, major workshops, and career exploration.
The experience begins with a weeklong program and extends throughout the academic year. First-year students in BRIDGE benefit from year-long mentoring from upper-level BRIDGE students, faculty, and staff, have the option to enroll in a shared academic course, and form a peer group to share in their first-year experience. Housed in John England Jr. Hall, the BRIDGE living-learning community (for first-year students only) provides an RA and a group of peer mentors to support the students. A limited number of spaces are available in the living community, but students can still participate in the BRIDGE program and live in a different residence hall.
The 2025-26 application for this LLC will be available in late March. The application deadline to be considered for the LLC is April 30, 2025 (program participants still accepted through summer).
Capstone Communication LLC
Community Features/Requirements: Common classes, peer mentor, programming and events.
Contact: 205-348-4321 or Jack Purser
Eligibility and How to Apply: Must be a first-year student or transfer student with no more than 30 earned credit hours and have a declared major in C&IS (Undesignated CIS students are also welcome to apply). There is a separate application for this community.
The Capstone Communication LLC connects students pursuing careers in media and communication. Students form a rich community among peers who share academic interests while participating in a variety of social, academic, and creative activities both on- and off-campus. Housed in John England Jr. Hall, current students from the College of Communication and Information Sciences serve as resident advisors and peer mentors for students throughout the first year. Participation in the program requires enrollment in two common courses each semester. A limited number of spaces are available, and students will be admitted on a rolling basis until spaces are filled.
The 2025-26 application for this LLC is now available. The preferred application deadline is March 1; applications accepted until May 1 if space allows.
The Delta Initiative
Community Features/Requirements: Common classes and peer mentors
Eligibility and How to Apply: There is a separate application for this community.
The Delta Initiative is an academic support program and living-learning community for women interested in exploring the historical significance and experiences of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Community members:
- take a common Women’s Studies Course (WS 200)
- benefit from study spaces and programs in the residence hall designed with STEM majors in mind
- have the opportunity to participate in STEM-specific community service
The Delta Initiative provides opportunities for career exploration, plan visits with STEM employers, and builds meaningful connections with faculty and STEM practitioners. Students majoring in biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, marine science, mathematics, microbiology, physics, or any of the eight majors in the College of Engineering are eligible. This program is currently housed in Riverside East.
Contact: Elizabeth Lester, 205-348-5040 or elester1@ua.edu.
The 2025-26 application for this LLC is now available. The application deadline is April 16, 2025.
German House
Community Features/Requirements: Common class
Eligibility and How to Apply: There is a separate application for this community.
If you wish to enhance your German skills in a fun and relaxed environment, the German House is the right fit for you! The Hans und Sophie Scholl Haus constitutes a unique Living-Learning program. Students who live in the house agree to speak German as much as possible and UA offers an optional conversation course exclusive to German House residents. The program is supervised by a student director, who is a native speaker and lives in the house with the other residents.
Scholl Haus is currently housed in the Bryce Lawn apartments.
Contact: Dr. Johannes Fröhlich, jfrohlich@ua.edu
The 2025-26 application for this LLC closed on January 31, 2025.
Honors College
*Affiliation with Honors College is required.Community Features/Requirements: Faculty-in-Residence
Eligibility and How to Apply: Students must be accepted to the Honors College.
Students in the Honors College have the option to live in Blount, Ridgecrest West or South. These Living-Learning facilities form the center of the University’s tightly knit honors community. Honors College students are not required to live in Honors housing. However, students are not guaranteed any specific building or style of building.
Honors Connections Living-Learning Community
Who: First-year students in the University Honors Program (UHP)
Where: Ridgecrest South
Program Requirements: Students must be accepted to the University Honors Program (UHP). Enrollment during fall semester in the 2-hour course, UH 100: Honors Connections LLC.
Contact: Katie Johnson, 205-348-6029, kdjohnson16@ua.edu
Community Highlights:
Designed as an immersive and supportive environment, the Honors Connections Living Learning Community (LLC) helps ease the transition to students’ new homes on campus as they start their freshman year at The Capstone. Honors Connections fosters community through the building of friendships, pairing with upperclassmen mentors, hosting engaging programs, and enrolling in an Honors College course. Honors Connections Mentors will live in the LLC hall with students and, in conjunction with Ridgecrest Community Staff, will be available as a resource not only in the community but in the Honors Connection (UH 100) class, helping to build connection with the Honors College and the greater UA community, while engaging in a curriculum that challenges students to become critical and creative thinkers, ethical and reasoned citizens, and collaborative leaders.
Please note that participation in the Honors Connections LLC is only available to students in the University Honors Program. Students in other Honors College programs are NOT eligible.
HRC will assign accepted students to the LLC. The 2025-26 application for this LLC is now available. The application deadline is April 14, 2025.
Lucy’s Legacy LLC
Community Features/Requirements: Common class, peer mentor, programming
Contact: Dr. Kiara Summerville, Director of Student Academic Engagement & Advocacy, at kssummerville@ua.edu or 205-348-2408
Eligibility and How to Apply: Must be a first-year woman who intends to live on campus. There is a separate application for this community.
Lucy’s Legacy is an academic support program and living-learning community for women interested in exploring the historical significance and experiences of women of color at UA. Named in honor of Autherine Lucy, the first African-American student to attend UA, Lucy’s Legacy strives to support the academic and social transition of women to UA. Members of this community are part of a group of first-year women who enroll in a shared academic course, benefit from mentoring and resources, and form a peer group to share in their first-year experience. Additionally, Lucy’s Legacy provides an RA and a group of sophomore-senior level peer mentors to serve and support the women. A limited number of spaces are available, and students are admitted on a rolling basis until spaces are filled.
The 2025-26 application for this LLC is now available. The application deadline to be considered for the LLC is April 30, 2025 (program participants still accepted through summer).
McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars
Community Features/Requirements: Students will take common courses and live in Ridgecrest South together.
Contact: Submit questions through this form, or contact Shantell Averette at MccolloughInstitute@ua.edu.
Eligibility and How to Apply: In-state students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, 30-36 ACT, or 1360-1600 SAT. Out-of-state students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, 32-36 ACT, or 1420-1600 SAT.
The McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars housed in Ridgecrest South offers a minor in interdisciplinary studies on medicine to a small cohort of aspiring physicians. McCollough scholars will form a Living-Learning Community investigating big picture questions about the art of medicine. The program focuses on academic excellence, leadership, community service, and undergraduate research. In addition, students’ primary major must be in the College of Arts & Sciences.
The 2024-25 application for this LLC is now closed.
Parker-Adams
Community Features/Requirements: Required course for fall and spring, peer mentors and dedicated faculty and staff
Contact: Lanna Johnson Boyd, Director of Parker Adams and First Year Initiatives, lanna.johnson@ua.edu
Eligibility and How to Apply: All incoming students registered within Arts and Sciences, Social Work or Nursing are eligible to apply to the Parker-Adams Year. No minimum GPA, ACT or SAT scores are required for students who have been accepted into the University. The program is not open to students participating in the Blount Scholars Initiative or Honors College.
The Parker-Adams Year is a freshman living-learning community designed to foster academic and personal success during the first year at UA. Housed in England Hall, the program integrates classroom and residential experiences through a one-credit course each semester (AS 101/102), social activities and cultural events. Participants have access to dedicated faculty and staff who assist with academic advising, personal challenges, campus involvement and career readiness.
Students experience a community that promotes:
- Academic Achievement
- Leadership Opportunities
- Service Learning
- Career Preparation
- Networking
PA room assignments are made by HRC staff during the spring semester following acceptance to the program.
The 2025-26 application for this LLC is now available. The application deadline is April 16, 2025.
Faculty-in-Residence
At UA, we take great pride in our faculty and want our students to love them as much as we do. We developed the Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) program in HRC to allow students to interact with faculty members outside the classroom.
-
Nathan Parker
Blount Scholars Program
Building: Blount
Academic Position: Senior Fellow, Blount Scholars Program; Instructor of English
-
Dr. Sara Pirkle
Department of EnglishBuilding: Ridgecrest South – North Tower
Academic Position: Associate Director of Creative Writing
-
Prof. Candace McCain
Department of MarketingBuilding: Ridgecrest West
Academic Position: Instructor of Marketing
-
Prof. Matt Wisla
Department of Advertising and Public RelationsBuilding: Ridgecrest South
Academic Position: Senior Instructor
Advisor to UA: Bateman Team; Public Relations Council of Alabama
and Public Relations