Learning Communities
In addition to the residence halls, the Department of University Housing and the Student Success Center offer four different learning communities available to freshmen. Each community is unique, and each provides unique opportunities to connect with classmates, develop valuable skills, become involved in campus life, and ultimately enjoy success as a University of Tennessee student.
If you are interested in applying for any of these living learning communities, you will need to submit a separate registration form in addition to the University Housing Application. Please contact University Housing at (865) 974-2571 to inquire about registration materials. You may also visit University Housing's Learning Community contact page for more information regarding the application process.
The Pathways Community
The Pathways Community, managed by University Housing and the Student Success Center, is designed to provide new students who are undecided about their major or career with opportunities to explore different majors and assist them in making a successful transition to the University of Tennessee. Member of this community will take two classes in common and live in the same residence hall (Morrill Hall).
The Honors Community
The Chancellor's Honors Program and the Department of University Housing are proud to offer a learning/living community with unmatched opportunities. An essential feature of the Honors First-Year Experience, the Honors Community first stimulates and then helps to sustain the honor student's growth and achievement. Residents of this community must be members of the Chancellor's Honors Program, although honors students living in another residence hall can participate in the learning community by submitting an application. Members of this community will live in Morrill Hall.
Contact the Chancellor's Honors Program at (865) 974-7875 or email honors@utk.edu for more information.
The Engage Community
The Engage Learning Community is a special housing area for students admitted to the College of Engineering. Residence in this community is not required for freshmen enrollment in the College of Engineering. During the 2005-2006 academic year approximately 25 percent of the freshman engineering students were in the Engage Learning Community.
Students living in the Engage Learning Community will live on the same floor in Morrill Hall with other engage students, and will take common freshman core engineering courses with them. To live in this community, students must be admitted to the College of Engineering for the fall semester. For more information on the Engage Community, contact the Engineering Fundamentals office at (865) 974-9810.
The Design Community
The Design Community is a unique living arrangement for architecture and interior design students who have been admitted to the College of Architecture and Design. As a freshman on campus, the transition to a large university can be quite intimidating. The Design Community provides architecture and design students with a "home base" cluster of fellow classmates and the chance to embark on this new chapter of life together. Residents are enrolled together in core freshmen courses and introductory courses in their individual programs and share rooms in Morrill Hall.
For more information on this community, please call (865) 974-5265 or email Laurie Roberson, Director of Student Services for the College of Architecture & Design.
The Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Community
One of our newest Learning Communities, the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Community provides incoming students the opportunity to connect with other students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources as well as Morrill Residence Hall. You and the other members of the Agriculture Community will enroll in "Biology 130: Biodiversity," a requirement for many majors in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Depending on your major, you will also enroll in either "Animal Science 160: Introduction to Animal Science" or "Agriculture and Natural Resources 100: Orientation to Studies in Agriculture and Natural Resources." Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students living in another hall can participate in this learning community by submitting an application.
For more information, please call (865) 974-7303 or e-mail Theressa Cooper, Program Coordinator for Retention in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
The Baker Center Community
Another new Learning Community, the Baker Center Community gives students a chance to integrate their interests in politics and public service into their on-campus living experience and allows them to form close relationships with students of similar interests. Named after former Tennessee Senator Howard Baker, Jr., the Baker Center Community will be directed by the staff and students of UT's Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. In addition, the Resident Assistants on the floors will work closely with community members and the Baker Center staff to offer programs and activities. This close association will give Baker Center Community members access to special events, studies, and conferences focusing on various aspects of public policy, from civic engagement to international politics.
The Baker Center Community is housed in Clement Hall, and is open to incoming freshmen as well as returning UT students. If you have questions about the Baker Center Community, contact the Baker Center for Public Policy by phone at 865-974-0931 or by e-mail at bakercenter@utk.edu.
» How do I apply for a Learning Community? Each living learning community requires a separate registration form in addition to the University Housing Application. For information and registration forms, contact University Housing at (865) 974-2571 or by email at housing@utk.edu.
» Morrill Hall? This residence hall houses 746 students, evenly split between women and men. Rooms are arranged in suites. Residents of Morrill are required to be on a meal plan. [Learn more about Morrill Hall]
» Clement Hall? This residence hall houses 421 women and 282 men. Rooms are arranged in suites. Residents of Clement Hall are not required to be on a meal plan. [Learn more about Clement Hall]