Residence Education
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First Year Transition Model
- At HCS, we believe residence is more than just a place to live. We strive to support McMaster University’s mission and strategic priorities by being student-centered and advancing learning beyond the classroom.
- In 2018, we formalized our co-curricular programming into an intentional first-year transition model. Drawing on student development and learning theories and aligning with residential programming best practices, HCS developed an educational priority, learning goals, and outcomes to guide the model.
- Our approach emphasizes collaboration with campus partners and faculties, building on existing co-curricular learning across the university. This collaboration avoids duplication and enhances the valuable learning and social opportunities available to students in residence.
Educational Priority
Residence students in their first year at McMaster will develop the skills and knowledge needed for academic and personal success, foster a sense of belonging and community engagement, and promote their overall well-being. Through a holistic and collaborative approach, we aim to support students in their transition to university life, ensuring they thrive both in and out of the classroom. Please see below for more information.
Expandable List
First Year Learning Goals and Strategies
Each student will gain the knowledge and skills that are important to their individual success as a student. Student success engages students in knowledge-sharing and skill-building opportunities at key points during the year to support their academic needs. Student success also encourages the exploration of experiential and career-building opportunities. Finally, student success includes preparing students with important life skills to help them flourish in their academic and personal lives.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- identify resources to support their academic preparedness (Resourcefulness)
- engage in opportunities to support their career exploration (Career Exploration)
- prepare themselves for non-academic milestones key to individual student success (Self-Efficacy)
- utilize transferable skills necessary to live independently (Independence)
Community impact includes a culture of mutual respect and inclusion that prioritizes community engagement and nurtures a sense of belonging. Community impact centers on the student experience while encouraging the exploration of new environments and relationships.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- identify practices that foster a sense of belonging within their community (Inclusion)
- recognize the benefits of engaging with the McMaster and/or the greater Hamilton Community (Community Engagement)
- engage in opportunities to explore who they are in relation to the communities that they identify with (Personal and Social Identity)
- demonstrate the importance of developing meaningful relationships (Relationship Building)
- demonstrate an understanding of the Residence Handbook and Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities (Accountability)
Personal well-being honours the concept that well-being is made up of multiple, intersecting domains including: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Agency is key in supporting students’ day-to-day well-being, as well as their long-term journey to well-being. We believe that students should be empowered with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to navigate their changing well-being-related needs. We recognize the connection between individual well-being and creating thriving, resilient communities.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- identify practices that promote balance across all domains of well-being (Holistic Well-Being)
- navigate campus resources that support their holistic well-being (Well-Being Resources)
- identify behaviours that promote positive mental health (Resilience)
INSPIRE 1PL3: Personal Leadership through University Transition
INSPIRE 1PL3 is a 3-unit open elective course designed for first-year students, collaboratively developed and taught by staff from the HCS and the Student Success Centre.
The genesis of INSPIRE 1PL3 stemmed from a recognition within the university community of the need for students to develop essential skills for success at university and beyond. Pre-COVID, there was a need to address gaps in students’ readiness for university life, encompassing crucial competencies such as time management, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills, all of which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. Housing & Conferences Services and the Student Success Centre both offered many co-curricular opportunities for students to learn and develop these skills.
Around 2019, staff from both departments worked to coalesce these learning opportunities into one curricular offering. In 2019, the establishment of the Inspire Office of Flexible Learning provided a platform for innovation in curriculum design and delivery, creating a space to develop a course offering that leveraged co-curricular activities taking place across campus and aligned with the First-Year Transition Model.
To learn more about the current offering of INSPIRE 1PL3, visit the INSPIRE website by clicking the button below.
Living Learning Communities
What is a Living Learning Community?
Living Learning Communities, also known as LLCs, are made up of a group of students who have a common interest or are part of the same Faculty, and who live together in campus housing. We currently offer six different LLCs that are housed in a variety of residence buildings.
LLCs aim to positively impact your first-year experience by fostering an immediate sense of community and belonging, supporting your academic engagement, and by encouraging personal growth and development. By participating in a Living Learning Community, you will have the opportunity to make friends who share a common interest, and be invited to events, workshops and networking opportunities related to your LLC.
Why Join a Living Learning Community?
Through focus groups, surveys, and a study of existing literature, students in our Living Learning Communities feel that LLCs positively impact them by providing:
Sense of Belonging and Built-In Community
Supports for Transition to University
Opportunities for Engagement and Learning Outside of the Classroom
How to Apply?
Prospective students can apply to live in a Living Learning Community when submitting their Residence Application, usually open in late April.
If you are offered a spot in an LLC, your choice of room will be limited to that LLC’s designated location.
Learn More about McMaster’s Living Learning Communities
Creative Expressions Learn more about Creative Expressions
Located in Moulton Hall, share your love for the arts with other students and the wider McMaster Community and experience visits from community artists, trips to local galleries and theatres, community art projects, and art-based workshops.
Health & Wellness Learn more about Health & Wellness
Explore all facets of health and discover what a healthy, balanced lifestyle means to you, all within McKay Hall.
eSports & Gaming Learn more about eSports & Gaming
Share your collective passion for eSports, video games and board games in Brandon Hall. Apply the skills that you use when playing games to enhance your personal and academic growth.
Innovation & Society Learn more about Innovation & Society
Located in Hedden Hall, work collaboratively with other first-year engineering students to think critically and creatively, all while supporting each other throughout the transition to university.
Women in Leadership Learn more about Women in Leadership
From paint nights and tie dye parties to speaker panels and an amazing mentorship program, there’s something for everyone in the Women in Leadership LLC found in Wallingford Hall.
Leaders & Influencers Learn more about Leaders & Influencers
As a member of this community in McKay Hall, you will have the opportunities to develop strong leadership skills in the areas of communication, teamwork, problem solving, and more.
Meet the LLC Team
The LLC Team consists of Community Advisors, Project Assistants, and the Living Learning Coordinator.
- LLC Community Advisors (CAs) are upper year mentors that live in residence with students. They support our students by creating a safe and welcoming living experience and bring their community together through the theme of the LLC.
- LLC Project Assistants (PAs) are student staff who support the development and execution of LLC events, programming, and initiatives.
- The Living Learning Coordinator is a full-time professional staff member who oversees all the LLCs and student staff. They design the framework, implementation, and facilitation of LLC programs, and coordinate communications with campus and community partners.
Interested in joining the team? View all available positions with Housing & Conference Services by following the link below.
Research
Research Focus Areas
- Holistic First-Year Student Success
- Impact of Living Learning Communities (LLCs) on Student Outcomes Success
- Wellbeing and Belonging of First-Year Students
- Impact of Residence Style on Student Outcomes
Conference Presentations
Residence Education: Growing a Research Program in a Co-Curricular Environment
Table discussion
McMaster University Innovations in Education Conference (2023) – Monica Palkowski, Melissa Gallina
Inspire 1PL3: Creating a transformative learning experience for first-year students at McMaster University
Poster Presentation
Guelph Innovations in Education Conference (2024) – Monica Palkowski, Sean Beaudette
Growing in a Co-Curricular Environment: First-Year Student Experience of Living Learning Communities (LLCs)
Poster Presentation
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2024) – Melissa Gallina, Monica Palkowski, Kristin Taylor, John Maclachlan
Inspire 1PL3: Creating a transformative learning experience for first-year students at McMaster
Concurrent Session
Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers (2024) – Monica Palkowski, Sean Beaudette
Developing a Research Program within Campus Housing
Concurrent Session
Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers (2024) – Melissa Gallina, Monica Palkowski, Kristin Taylor, John Maclachlan
Living Learning Communities at McMaster – Impacts on the First-Year Experience
Poster Presentation
McMaster Conference on Education & Cognition (2024) – Melissa Gallina, Monica Palkowski, Kristin Taylor, John Maclachlan
Published Papers
- Reimagining Higher Education: Meeting Contemporary Student Needs (John Maclachlan)
- Developing a Research Program within Campus Housing (Melissa Gallina)
- The Positive Impact of Alumni Engagement: McMaster University’s Women in Leadership Living Learning Community (Kristin Taylor)
- INSPIRE 1PL3: Transformative Learning to Support Student Success (Monica Palkowski)
Residence Education Staff
Manager of Educational Initiatives
Dr. John Maclachlan is the Manager of Educational Initiatives and Assessment for McMaster Housing and Conference Services. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the McMaster School of Earth, Environment and Society John has been involved with pedagogical and SoTL-themed qualitative research for over a decade. This has involved creating and administering surveys; focus group interviews; transcribing interviews; using grounded theory and other similar qualitative methodologies to code and theme data; managing private data; and ethically disseminating data via research reports.
Kristin completed her Honours BA in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour from McMaster University. Throughout her professional life she has gained over a decade of experience in developing, implementing, and coordinating programming and student-staff teams at McMaster University. She currently holds the position of Living Learning Coordinator and is strongly passionate about student development, community building, program facilitation, and creating a positive impact on our students in residence.
Living Learning Coordinator
Researcher Coordinator
Melissa holds an MA in Geography and BSc in Earth and Environmental Science from McMaster. She is a peer-reviewed author of both qualitative and mixed methods research. Melissa is currently conducting research on the success of first year students at McMaster, on behalf of Housing and Conference Services. Prior to joining the team in 2023, Melissa worked in the consulting sector, where she led numerous community-based research projects using surveys, interviews and focus groups.
Monica holds an Hon. BA, Humanities (English and Cultural Studies) from McMaster University and a Diploma, Social Service Work from Mohawk College. For the past eight years, Monica has been working in post-secondary in the housing and student affairs field developing and implementing curriculum for out of classroom learning opportunities for first-year students. Beyond curriculum development, Monica is also passionate about mentoring and supervising students in experiential, community-based projects. In addition to her current role as a Residence Education Programs Associate, she is also a sessional instructor for INSPIRE 1PL3, a first-year course focused on transformative learning and reflection.
Residence Education Programs Assoc.