Dear Prospective Learning Community Students:
Welcome to Bowling Green State University’s nationally recognized learning community network!
At BGSU we care deeply about our students. The programs described in the pages that follow represent some of our most powerful efforts to make your transition from high school to college successful. We do this by connecting you with others who share your interests, as well as faculty, staff, and graduate students who are deeply committed to student success—both inside and outside of the classroom.
Each community offers its members special opportunities, depending upon the community itself: classrooms, faculty and peer mentor offices, and a variety of other amenities in your residence halls; experiential learning opportunities that involve you actively in your education; leadership training, peer facilitation, and other chances to gain valuable mentoring experience; educational trips; and a variety of community-building events that help you meet those who will become some of your most important friends.
I encourage you to explore our learning communities, by major or theme. If you wish to apply, simply select the “Apply Today” link on any of the pages. If you have questions about a community, reach out to the director whose information is included. And, if you are uncertain which learning community would be the best fit for you, call us directly at 419.372.9979 and ask. We’ll help you find that fit and we’ll connect you with members of that community.
During this pandemic, learning communities have been an incredibly important way over 1,200 students have connected with others, developed friendships, and interacted daily with faculty and peer mentors. As we emerge from these challenging times, learning communities will continue to help members stay at BGSU, earn higher grades, and graduate on time. We’re proud of this work and we look forward to welcoming you into one or two of our programs!
If you happen to visit campus this summer for Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR), please do not hesitate to stop by 110 University Hall, the Office of Learning Communities, and meet us!
Welcome to BGSU!
Sincerely,
Brett Holden, Ph.D.
Academic Affairs Coordinator of Learning Communities, Office of the Provost
Director, Chapman Learning Community
If BGSU was a city, a Learning Community would be your neighborhood and your next-door neighbors would be your new best friends down the hall.
When you join a Learning Community you move into an environment where friendships are natural and campus more quickly feels like home.
Living with individuals who share your same interests, you enjoy unique resources and opportunities that help you succeed in your personal, professional and academic lives.
Live and Learn with Students who Share Your Passions
- Experience a smoother transition to university life
- Earn higher grades
- Graduate at higher rates
- Participate in unique activities and trips
- Get a head start with career networking that will help secure a job after you graduate.
Non-Residential Learning Communities
Members of learning communities that are 'non-residential', receive the great benefits of belonging to a Learning Community but the community currently doesn't have a block of rooms inside a residence hall available to students to live in. A non-residential Learning Community may become a residential Learning Community in the future.
If you are having trouble applying, please contact Lenee Hammersmith at 419-372-9979 in our Learning Community Office so she can assist you. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Find Your Community
Each Learning Community is unique in its own way. Some communities are made up of students with the same major or in a specific program; others are centered around a common interest and include students from all majors. Each community also offers their own unique programs and experiences.
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If the community you are interested has a fee to join, the fee is applied per semester and is in addition to your Residential Fees. The fees are determined based on the types of experiences the community provides.
Some communities require students to live in the community in order to be a member. Others accept students regardless if they choose to live in the community.
Some communities allow pull-ins, meaning you can choose to live with someone from the community or choose a roommate outside of the community. If the community doesn't, you must select a roommate who is a member of the community.
Major and Program Specific
Academic Investment in Math and Science Community
For all students interested in science, technology, engineering and math.
Residence Hall: Offenhauer Towers
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Learn more the AIMS community
Air Force ROTC Community
For any student who is in the Air Force ROTC program at BGSU.
Residence Hall: McDonald Hall
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? No
Learn more the Air Force ROTC community
Army ROTC Community
For all students in the Army ROTC program at BGSU.
Residence Hall: McDonald Hall
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? No
Learn more about the Army ROTC community
Aviation Community
For any student in the aviation program, including Air Force ROTC.
Residence Hall: McDonald Hall
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? No
Learn more about the Aviation community
Business District Community
For students in a business major.
Residence Hall: Kohl Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Roommates can be non-members? No
Learn more the Business District community
Fee | $200 per semester
If this community allows upper class students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Criminal Justice Learning Community
For all students in the Criminal Justice program.
Residence Hall: Offenhauer Towers
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? No
Education and Human Development
For students in an EDHD major.
Residence Hall: McDonald Hall
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Learn more the EDHD community
Educators in Context and Community
For students in an education major.
Residence Hall: McDonald Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Learn more Educators in Context community
Fee | $300 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Forensic Science Community
For students in the BGSU Bachelor of Science Forensic Science degree program
Residence Hall: Offenhauer Towers
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Learn more about the Forensic Science community
Fee | $300 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Natural & Health Science Community
For students in a science, health or pre-professional program.
Residence Hall: Offenhauer Towers
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Learn more about the Natural & Health Science community
Fee | $200 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
All Majors Accepted
Arts Village Community
For all students interested in exploring the arts.
Residence Hall: Kreischer Quadrangle
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Fee | $200 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Batchelder Music Community
Preference goes to College of Musical Arts students but all students with the passion for Music can apply.
Residence Hall: Kreischer Quadrangle
Fee to live in the community? No
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Allows roommate pull-ins? No
Learn more about the Batchelder Music community
Chapman Community
For all students interested in community engagement, service and leadership.
Residence Hall: Kohl Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Roommates can be non-members? No
Fee | $300 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Global Village Community
For all students interested in meeting, and learning about, people from other countries and cultures.
Residence Hall: Kohl Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? No
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Fee | $200 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Honors Learning Community
Honors College and all students in any major looking for an atmosphere conducive to academic excellence.
Residence Hall: Founders Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Roommates can be non-members? No
Fee | $200 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
La Comunidad
For all students who are passionate about the Spanish-speaking world.
Residence Hall: Kohl Hall
Fee to live in the community? Yes
Must live in this hall to be a member? Yes
Roommates can be non-members? Yes
Fee | $125 per semester
If this community allows upperclass students to join, the fee will be $75 per semester after being a member for two years.
Finding Your Voice in Social Justice Community
For all students passionate about social justice and community activism.
Non-Residential Learning Community*
Fee to join? No
History Village
For all students curious about history and the importance of it in their lives.
Non-Residential Learning Community*
Fee to join? No
*Non-residential communities receive the great benefits of belonging to a Learning Community but the community currently doesn't have a block of rooms inside a residence hall available to students to live in.
Other organizations to consider:
Request Information
Thank you for taking an interest in joining one of our Learning Communities. We know there is a lot of decisions students have to make when they are getting ready for college life. Fill out this form and we will get you all the information you need to help you choose the community that is right for you.
| Community | Residence Hall | Director | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Investment in Math and Science (AIMS) | Offenhauer Towers | Sarah Jurden | 419-372-5401 | |
| Air Force ROTC | McDonald Hall | David Garon | 419-372-2176 | |
| Army ROTC | McDonald Hall | Brian Owens | 419-372-2476 | |
| Arts Village | Kreischer Quad | Joel O'Dorisio | 419-372-3537 | |
| Aviation | McDonald Hall | Michael Ferguson | 419-372-2873 | |
| Batchelder Music | Kreischer Quad | Megan Rancier | 419-372-1030 | |
| Business District | Kohl Hall | Erik Chiarelott | 419-372-8001 | |
| Chapman Learning Community | Kohl Hall | Brett Holden - Director | 419-372-0593 | |
| Criminal Justice Learning Community | Non-Residential | Catherine Pape | 419-372-9177 | |
| Education and Human Development Community (EDHD) | McDonald Hall | Claire Hoover | 419-372-1003 | |
| Educators in Context and Community (ECCO) | McDonald Hall | Patrick Vrooman | 419-372-9185 | |
| Finding Your Voice in Social Justice | Non-Residential | Jess Birch | 419-372-7610 | |
| Forensic Science | Offenhauer Towers | Jeffrey Lynn | 419-372-6224 | |
| Global Village | Kohl Hall | Kefa Otiso | 419-372-9352 | |
| History Village | Non-Residential | Michael Brooks | 419-372-8333 | |
| Honors Learning Community | Founders Hall | Jodi Devine | 419-372-8501 | |
| La Comunidad | Kohl Hall | Cynthia Whipple | 419-372-7156 | |
| Natural Health and Science Residential Community (NHSRC) | Offenhauer Towers | Erika Scheufler | 419-372-0117 |
Comparison Chart
As you prepare to select your room, please become familiar with some of the expectations that your Learning Community may have. If you have questions about these items, you should contact your Learning Director. Some of the items you will want to review are the following:
Some Learning Communities require a student to live in their Community's rooms to participate in the community. It is the responsibility of the student to place themselves into the Learning Community space during Learning Community room selection time. (See the Room Selection Tab on this page)
Learning Communities may require that your roommate be a member of the community to live within the designated Learning Community rooms. If this is the case, both students need to enroll in the Learning Community in order to be roommates.
If you have a roommate that is not enrolled in the community, you will need to contact the Office of Residence Life after you selected your room. You should place yourself in a room in the community space and then call the Office of Residence Life at 419-372-2011. The Office of Residence Life will then assign your confirmed roommate to the room.
Your roommate who is not a member of the community will need to confirm their room selection in May during their housing selection time.
| Community | Residential or Non-Residential | Hall | Fee Per Semester | Must live in this hall to be a member? | Roommates can be non-members? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Investment in Math and Science (AIMS) | Residential | Offenhauer Towers | $0 | No | Yes |
| Air Force ROTC Community | Residential | McDonald Hall | $0 | No | No |
| Army ROTC | Residential | McDonald Hall | $0 | No | No |
| Arts Village | Residential | Kreischer Quadrangle | $200 | Yes | Yes |
| Aviation Community | Residential | McDonald Hall | $0 | No | No |
| Batchelder Music Community | Residential | Kreischer Quadrangle | $0 | Yes | No |
| Business District | Residential | Kohl Hall | $200 | Yes | No |
| Chapman Learning Community | Residential | Kohl Hall | $300 | Yes | No |
| Criminal Justice Learning Community | Residential | Offenhauer Towers | $0 | No | No |
| Education and Human Development Community (EDHD) | Residential | McDonald Hall | $0 | No | Yes |
| Educators in Context and Community (ECCO) | Residential | McDonald Hall | $300 | No | Yes |
| Finding Your Voice in Social Justice | Non-Residential | N/A | $0 | N/A | N/A |
| Forensic Science Community | Residential | Offenhauer Towers | $300 | No | Yes |
| Global Village | Residential | Kohl Hall | $200 | No | Yes |
| History Village | Non-Residential | N/A | $0 | N/A | N/A |
| Honors Learning Community | Residential | Founders Hall | $200 | Yes | No |
| La Comunidad | Residential | Kohl Hall | $125 | Yes | Yes |
| Natural Health and Science Residential Community (NHSRC) | Residential | Offenhauer Towers | $200 | No | Yes |
IMPORTANT
If your community allows roommate pull-ins and you want to live with someone who is not a member of the community, you are be eligible to live with your roommate in your designated community room; however, you will not be able to assign your roommate through this room selection process. Here are the steps to get your roommate assigned with you:
- Log in to the housing system during your assigned room selection time and select an open room (a room that shows 2/2)
- Call the Office of Residence Life at 419-372-2011 and provide your name and your roommate’s name. The Office of Residence Life will assign your confirmed roommate to that room (as long as space is available in your room)
- Your roommate's room assignment will be in your room, but they will need to log in during their selection time in May to confirm their assignment and select a meal plan
If you have questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 419-372-2011 or email at reslife@bgsu.edu.