Living Learning Communities (LLCs)
Perks of Living in an LLC or Affinity Dwelling
Our Living Learning Communities (LLCs) and Affinity Dwellings attract high-achieving students and provide specialized attention for an enriched educational and residential experience. They offer a sense of community through programs, conversations, and faculty interaction centered on members’ interests.
- Primary access to work and learn from Faculty-In-Residence
- Tailored programmatic learning experience aligning with lived student experience
- Designated Peer Mentor who has adjacent academic/professional goals: LLC
- Designated Peer Mentor who is aware, empathetic, and understanding of your needs as a member of an affinity dwelling community
- Leadership opportunity ranging from Campus Housing employment to collaborations with faculty
- Access to homework supports and study groups within your building
- Integrated community with similarities
- Additional paid for exploring Chicago experiences with the members of your community
- Streamlined academic support from your professors to your peer mentor
- Weekly office hours with your peer mentor to seek support and guidance as you navigate UIC
What is an LLC?
LLCs are themed communities based upon major and area of study that provide you with intentional peer group with similar academic goals or interests. These communities help you develop relationships that aid in your transition to UIC. Every LLC has a designated peer mentor assigned to support the community. Peer mentors offer support varying from academic/classroom assistance to interpersonal concerns. Below are our LLCs for 2025-2026.
Future Leaders of Healthcare
The Future Leaders of Healthcare community brings together students all majors and all areas of healthcare. Living in this community you will receive multiple development opportunities to enhance your professional skills.
- Located in the Academic and Residential Complex
- Explore ethical principles in the practice of medicine
- Explore potential research and volunteering opportunities in the field of medicine
- Build an academic and professional network
- Opportunities to teach and mentor Pre-Health undergraduates
- Engage with peer mentoring, panel discussions, speakers, and social events
- Interact with faculty representing diverse medical specialties and scientific interests
Prerequisite for the community:
- Career path in medicine
- Pre-health
- Pre-dentistry
- Pre-pharmacy
- Hospital administration
If you live here, we encourage you to:
- Join study groups with others on the floor
- Work with your RA to plan relevant programs
Formerly known as the Pre-Health LLC.
Honors
The Honors community is exclusively for academically talented students enrolled in the Honors College. Here, you will find friendships with people of different majors who are focused on high achievement.
- Located in James Stukel Towers
- Engage in exploring various study strategies
- Receive support to fulfill Honors activities such as senior capstone projects
- Attend professional development and stress management workshops
- Participate in fun programs such as yoga, scavenger hunts, and museum trips
- Learn about research opportunities available on campus
- Build relationships with Honors College Advisors and Staff
- Peer Tutoring and study groups
- Integration with faculty from the Honors College
Prerequisite for the community:
- Application and acceptance into the UIC Honors College is required to be part of this LLC program.
Innovate
The Innovate living learning community is located in James Stukel Towers.
- Located in James Stukel Towers
- Tutoring in the halls
- Students in the same classes make for natural study groups
- Ease of planning programming with fellow residents
Prerequisite for the community:
- Be in the College of Engineering
Formerly known as WISE and Computer Science LLC.
PAP-STEM
The PAP-STEM Initiative enables President’s Award Program scholars majoring in STEM disciplines at UIC to join a network with their peers and faculty in the scientific community. STEM students conduct research, make connections, and enhance their experience at UIC, while preparing for graduate school and becoming the next generation of scientists and engineers who will shape the world.
To join the PAP-STEM, students are first invited to accept an award and become scholars in the President’s Award Program (PAP). PAP Scholars who intend to major in a STEM discipline (biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer sciences, earth and environmental sciences, engineering, mathematics, neuroscience, or physics), are interested in conducting research in science and engineering, and plan to pursue graduate education in their STEM field are invited to join PAP-STEM.
Located in James Stukel Towers
Students participating in the PAP-STEM will:
- Gain hands-on scientific research experience
- Build their professional network
- Learn how to study effectively in a STEM discipline
- Benefit from study groups and social activities
- Participate in PAP-STEM seminars led by faculty
Transforming Law and Justice
The Transforming Law and Justice community is designed for students interested in preparing themselves to take an active role in the creation of a more just society.
- Located in the Academic & Residential Complex
- Practice LSAT questions
- Learn about student organizations such as Mock Trial
- Develop relationships to gain internships
- Network with faculty
- Courses taught in the same building
- Peer tutoring and study groups
Formerly known as Pre-Law and Justice LLC.
Ventures in Business and Industry
The Ventures in Business and Industry community is designed specifically for business scholars. You’ll have several other residents as a natural study group, and a Faculty-in-Residence is available to provide additional support. Other spots on the floors will be set aside for incoming business scholars.
- Located in James Stukel Towers
- Tutoring in the hall
- Students in the same classes make for natural study groups
- Ease of planning programming with fellow residents and faculty in residence
Prerequisite for the community:
- Be in the College of Business
Formerly known as the Business LLC.
What is an Affinity Dwelling & What is Affinity Group?
UIC has 6 affinity groups on-campus, which are listed below. Each affinity group has an affinity dwelling option. Choosing the affinity dwelling option lets students live in community with those that have a similar lived experience as them. All residential students have an option of joining and affinity group during September. However, if you want to live in the affinity dwelling then that must be notated within your housing application. All affinity dwellings have a designated Peer Mentor that supports and helps affinity dwelling residents navigate campus.
La Casa
The La Casa affinity space provides opportunity in bringing together Hispanic and Latinx students to explore their culture, identity, leadership, and develop a rich community of friends.
- Explore a sense of identity with a cultural lens.
- Expand cultural competency by learning about students of diverse identities and backgrounds.
- Engage in directed programming and professional connections.
- Develop a sense of community and belonging through shared experiences and culture.
Goals and engagement opportunities for La Casa participants include:
- Tenets: Community, Latinidad/Hispanidad, Culture, and Leadership
- Collaboration with LALS department, Latino Cultural Center, LARES, and AHLMA (affinity space)
Location of the La Casa:
- Located in James Stukel Towers
Prerequisites for students wanting to be a part of La Casa:
- Identify as a student of Latinx/Hispanic descent
Shared or common courses:
- LALS 101 Introduction to Latin American Studies
- LALS 102 Introduction to Latino Studies
Get involved and join the La Casa Campus Group!
LEAD-ASIA
LEAD-ASIA stands for Leadership Education and Development for Asian Students in America. It is a rich, transformative community where eastern values meet western principles and interact to synthesize contemporary and holistic student leaders. We hope to reimagine on-campus living by providing a safe, inclusive space to all who identify as part of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American community, which includes but is not limited to East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander identities, as well as multiracial and multiethnic identities.
Specific features and/or benefits of LEAD-ASIA:
We hope to serve students of Asian descent in their academic, professional, social, and cultural endeavors with the hope that they will embrace the different parts of their identities, feel confident and proud of themselves rather than silently suppress aspects of that identity because it is different from the majority culture.
Goals and engagement opportunities:
Resources to cultivate career readiness, share and/or reconnect with Asian culture and heritage, nurturing community to promote self-awareness and a sense of belonging, leadership opportunities, professional workshops, space, and inclusive spaces to socialize or study with each other, and build fulfilling and lasting college experience.
Prerequisites – East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander identities, as well as multiracial and multiethnic identities
Location of LEAD-ASIA Dwelling:
- Located in James Stukel Towers
Get involved and join the LEAD-ASIA Campus Group!
Pathways to Black Male Achievement (PBMA)
Pathways to Black Male Achievement (PBMA) represent important affinity groups in our campus community, exemplify the critical importance and value of holding space for students to address diversity, and equity through intentional leadership, bonding, outreach and programming.
PBMA is an engagement and retention affinity group that provides intentional programming and seeks to helps students explore what it means to be a Black male on a college campus. PBMA puts an emphasis on culture, heritage, development and counteracting the negative images of Black males portrayed in the media. Everyone can participate in PBMA events regardless of ethnicity or gender.
Location of PBMA Dwelling: James Stukel Towers.
Get involved and join the PBMA Campus Group!
SISTERS
SISTERS represents an important affinity group in our campus community, exemplify the critical importance and value of holding space for students to address diversity, and equity through intentional leadership, bonding, outreach and programming.
SISTERS is a retention and engagement affinity group dedicated to uniting and developing residents that identify as Black women and non-binary folk in Campus Housing. Through strong sisterhood, participants of SISTERS explore Black identity, hegemonic norms, beauty standards, and empowerment. Everyone can participate in SISTERS events regardless of ethnicity or gender, and programs are open to everyone.
This is a gender-inclusive community that allows roommates of any identified gender to live together without having formed a roommate group.
Located in James Stukel Towers.
Get involved and join the SISTERS Campus Group!
Spectrum
This community brings together students from across the different spectrums of gender and sexuality. Here, you will find opportunities to explore and learn about these social identities together.
Location of the Spectrum Dwelling is in our Courtyard residence hall.
This is a gender-inclusive community that allows roommates of any identified gender to live together without having formed a roommate group.
Specific features and benefits of Spectrum:
- Develop dialogue facilitation skills during community discussions
- Expand cultural competency by learning with students of diverse identities
- Explore media and materials detailing the array of genders and sexualities in society
- Engage with programs that foster connections between students
- Organize for furthering inclusivity in the residence halls and on campus
Goals and engagement opportunities for Spectrum participants include:
- EcoEducators
- Learn about research and scholarship opportunities available
- Network with professional LGBTQIA+ people
- Socialize with faculty-affiliates of the Gender and Womens Studies department
- Interact with faculty in the residence halls
- Peer tutoring and study groups
Prerequisite for the community:
- None
Recommended courses (though not required):
- BLST/GWS 262, EPSY 242 encouraged
Staff or faculty leads for Spectrum:
- Dr. Mario LaMothe lamothem@uic.edu
- Dr. Nic Weststrate nicwest@uic.edu
Get involved and join the Spectrum Campus Group!
Bayt Al-Iman
Apply to Live in an LLC or Affinity Dwelling
New Applicants and Returning Residents – How to Apply
Applicants will make their LLC/Affinity Dwelling preference known in their Housing application. Room selection availability will show applicants options in the selected LLC/Affinity Dwelling location only. To update your LLC/Dwelling preference, re-enter your Housing application and edit your selection.