UC the World community offers international housing experience

The first year brought together a small group of American and international students interested in international education and global citizenship.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic limited the pilot, they leave the community they built to future students to expand into a true residential experience.

Newly rebranded as UC the World to reflect the international makeup of the community, the LLC (originally Bearcats Abroad) is just one of the living/learning communities students can choose for on-campus housing.

The community is located in a designated block of units in the University Park Apartments.

Living/learning communities (LLCs) are small residential communities that bring together students with common academic interests. Most are associated with specific degree programs.

Students live together in a dedicated section of a residence hall in order to build connections that go beyond the classroom and to engage with each other and with faculty and staff to enrich their academic experience and their campus life.

The unique focus of each LLC determines the eligibility requirements, the academic connections and the community activities.   

The LLCs differ from residential interest communities or other group housing options because they include that academic focus. Participants commit to pursuing their academic passion with like-minded students.

UC the World was conceived as a community for students — both US and international — who are interested in learning about world cultures, travel, languages and a future as global citizens.

Unlike other LLCs, it is not associated with a specific degree program. In fact, the students' diverse backgrounds and perspectives are an essential part of this LLC's appeal.

The 2020-21 resident adviser, Daniel Posmik, said that the choice was deliberate to make the community an LLC rather than an interest community or other group housing type because of its inherent learning focus.

"I believe it will remain an LLC. I’m very certain about that, and that’s because at its center it’s not just the interest that the students have in common but also the pursuit of that global scholarship — studying abroad, learning from different people. Learning is central to this community, just not in the same way that it is to the engineering and business honors LLCs. It is very much by definition an LLC, a living/learning community."

While the academic components of the LLC were virtual in 2020-21, Posmik looks forward to in-person programming that can take place post-COVID, like international movie nights, study abroad fairs, guest speakers and potluck dinners, that can spark more cultural exchange, help international students transition to life in the United States, and prepare American students for international education.

It was a rough year to pilot the LLC.

Few international students could come to the United States. Fewer American students than usual were interested in campus housing. Social distancing and online learning requirements forced the rapid retooling of the LLC's community and academic components, and computer fatigue took a toll on both aspects. Everyone acknowledged that the pilot LLC couldn't live up to the founders' dreams.

But with COVID-19 vaccinations looking promising, more students expected back on U.S. campuses and a record number of first-year international applicants at the University of Cincinnati for fall 2021, the reimagined UC the World LLC is an exciting prospect once again.

Owens looks forward to starting again with UC the World, and in particular connecting to UC's international students and faculty.

"We'll take it one step at a time. But it will be a great journey!"

The featured image shows the University Park Apartments.