Learning Communities

Learning Communities at Syracuse University are groups of students who live together in a residence hall around a common major, interest, or theme. Learning communities integrate the residential, social, and academic components of the first year college experience. Although the experience is unique to each learning community, most include:

  • Living with others who share similar and overlapping interests, developing lifelong friendships.
  • Guest speakers and advising staff who support students in career and academic planning.
  • Academic support in crucial first semester courses, including help balancing your academic and social lives.
  • Shared classes, including some specific to learning communities.
  • Out-of-the-classroom academic enrichment and career exploration opportunities.
  • Fun social programs and events, both on and off campus, including dinners, team retreats, and more!

There are more than 30 learning communities currently offered at SU, including the Education HIVE Living Learning Community. 

Learning communities are only available to first year students. Admitted and matriculated students who have submitted their tuition and housing deposits can log into MySlice and apply to a Learning Community on their housing form.

Education HIVE Living Learning Community

Bee iconIn the Education HIVE (Home for Inclusive and Visionary Educators), you will live AND learn with your classmates in the School of Education, share meaningful experiences, nurture belonging, and make lifelong friends.

  • Live with peers who share your passion for educating the next generation, advancing inclusion and social justice, and exploring exciting career options. As a group, you will take some of your classes together, giving you a built-in study—as well as friendship—group.
  • Develop relationships with faculty, staff, alumni, and upperclass students to create mentoring connections and resources for navigating your academic journey, including your classes, placements, career goals, and your overall adjustment to Syracuse.
  • Attend exclusive events for Education HIVE LLC residents, including coffee and snack breaks, dinners, opportunities to explore campus and off-campus trips—such as apple picking and mini-golf—interactions with professional educators in the area, and more!
  • You will live on the 5th floor of Lawrinson Hall in a community where you’ll share the floor and residence hall with more than 500 other first-year students—with access to a music room, a penthouse multipurpose room, laundry on every floor, all in close proximity to the Dome. The learning community can be a full or partial floor arrangement with a mixture of LLC and and non-LLC students.
Students sit around a table
Members of the 2023-2024 Education HIVE Living/Learning Community

Education HIVE Eligibility Requirements

  • Open to first-year undergraduate School of Education students only (including Selected Studies majors and students dually enrolled in Arts and Sciences, Maxwell, or Visual and Performing Arts).
  • You must register for WRT 105: Practices of Academic Writing (3 credits), a required course for the fall semester.
  • Participation is required in a minimum of three learning community events and activities. Failure to participate may affect your ability to enroll in future LLCs.

Questions?

For general questions about learning communities, or issues with filling out your housing form, contact the Office of Learning Communities.

For general questions about the School of Education, or about SOE-sponsored learning communities, contact:

Heather Macknik, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
hmmackni@syr.edu|315.443.4269
Heather Macknik