Living Learning Communities
At Bethel, college is more than classes and credits—it’s a community that shapes who you’re becoming. Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are unique, residential environments that bring together students who share a passion, purpose, or major. Students live, learn, and grow side by side, with access to social events, study groups, and experiences that are tailored to their interests.
LLC participation begins with an opportunity to move in early during Welcome Week, so friendships form early and students can get to know campus together. Residents will connect with faculty and staff leaders, and find built-in support throughout their first year at Bethel. By living together within a Bethel residence hall, participating in community-based learning opportunities, and taking some courses together as a cohort; students connect academically while building deep friendships and continuing their learning outside the classroom. The residence hall becomes a hub for discovery, faith, and leadership—where learning happens nonstop and personal stories truly take root.
Explore whether an LLC might be right for you:
The Bridge
The Bridge is a first-year living learning community designed to help students build academic skills, form supportive relationships, connect with mentors, and grow spiritually while they transition to college life.
Additional programming includes:
- Building successful academic practices and time management skills
- Developing a sense of community on campus
- Exploring ways to be involved on campus
- Connecting with faculty and support staff
- Growing spiritually and taking part in campus ministries together
- Academic and vocational planning
- Leadership development
Eligibility
This community is intended for admitted students who have zero to few college credits before beginning at Bethel.
It builds nicely on the Royal Bridge summer program, and students in the summer program will automatically be eligible (and do not need to apply) for the LLC. If you are not part of the summer program, you are still welcome to apply for the LLC! As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to articulate why you’d like to be part of this community and what success in college looks like to you.
How to apply
The application opens in January and closes May 1. Final decisions will be made and communicated to students before June 1, when the roommate selection process begins.
If you have questions about LLCs, please reach out to the Office of Admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Starting college can be overwhelming! An LLC is a live-in community of students who share your interests and goals. Communities like these are common across the country, and while Bethel students on the whole are well supported, research shows that LLC participants have an even stronger sense of belonging and are more likely to feel connected to faculty and peers. LLCs help students build positive habits and make connections with trusted peers and mentors.
- Bethel has countless clubs, teams, events, and experiences so that students can craft a college experience that fits who they are and who they’re becoming. Being part of an LLC is another way students can tailor their learning!
- LLC participants have the opportunity to move in early during Welcome Week, so they’ll have a head start meeting others and getting to know campus. During the year, they’ll have the opportunity to take part in extracurricular opportunities, study groups, and other activities designed with them in mind. Most are optional! Students can absolutely take part in athletic teams, other clubs and activities, campus ministries, and student events in addition to being part of an LLC.
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Bethel’s Living Learning Communities have been developed in partnership between Bethel’s Offices of Academic Affairs, Inclusive Excellence, Residence Life, and Student Life; as well as the Studio for Vocation and Calling—creating a multidisciplinary experience designed to add an extra layer of support and direction to the student experience. Day-to-day, LLC participants will engage with intentionally-chosen resident assistants who live on-site, plus upperclass students, faculty mentors, and alumni/professional contacts who can add perspective.