The promise and limits of engaging international students through living-learning communities in U.S. research universities

Authors

Abstract

This chapter explores the possibilities and limitations of using Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) to engage international students in U.S. research universities. LLCs are considered a high-impact practice by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), but research on their specific impact on the engagement of international students remains limited. Nevertheless, global or international “houses” or communities are nearly ubiquitous in American research universities. This chapter traces variations on this practice across institutional types, identifies promising practices, and explores limitations for implementing this approach. An LLC within a research university in the Northeast is presented as an instrumental case study to empirically anchor the theoretical discussion presented in the chapter. Class observations were conducted over the course of one year and semi-structured interviews took place with 14 international students. The chapter concludes with specific recommendations for the successful implementation of this practice.

Author Biography

  • Gerardo Blanco, Boston College
    Gerardo Blanco is an Associate Professor in the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. He previously served as Faculty Director of Global House at the University of Connecticut. His teaching, research and consulting include 15 countries and 5 continents. He has published extensively on international quality assurance and accreditation. He has served as visiting faculty at Shaanxi Normal University, visiting expert at the International Center for Higher Education Research at the University of Kassel, and Erasmus+ Fellow at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Gerardo holds leadership roles in the Comparative and International Education Society, and the Comparative Education Review.

Published

2021-10-05

How to Cite

The promise and limits of engaging international students through living-learning communities in U.S. research universities. (2021). Comparative & International Education Series. https://ojed.org/cies/article/view/2042