Living Learning Community

The CWIT LLC isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s where your best college memories happen. It’s a hub of people who speak your language, share your stress, and celebrate your wins.

• The 24/7 Study Community: Forget struggling through a complex problem set alone. In the LLC, the lounge is a natural hub for collaboration. Whether it’s an impromptu tutoring session before a Wednesday quiz or a dedicated group study block, you’ll always find someone ready to learn from—and someone who could learn from you.
• The “Built-In” Social Life: From decorating the floor and late-night D-Hall runs for ice cream to bonding over your favorite fandoms and movies, the LLC makes a big campus feel like home. These aren’t just roommates; they’re the people you’ll still be running into and cheering on four years later.
• A “Soft Landing” for Freshmen: Transitioning to college is a massive shift. The LLC provides an immediate community of peers and mentors who help you navigate everything from finding your classes to landing your first research experience.
• Friendships That Outlast Graduation: Our alumni don’t just remember the classes; they remember the people. The bonds formed on the CWIT floor often last through graduation, grad school, and into the professional world.

• Where: 1st Floor, Chesapeake Hall (Co-ed wing)

• Who: A diverse community of 47 Scholars and Affiliates in COEIT majors.

• Academic Edge: First-year students living on the CWIT LCC enroll in a required specialized UNIV 101 (Introduction to an Honors University) seminar together to ensure a smooth transition to UMBC.

• What’s Happening: Annual LLC Prom, family dinners, movie nights, holiday celebrations, study groups, and more.
• Peer Mentoring: LLC residents participate in peer mentoring for their first full academic year.

• “My favorite part was being in a safe space and given the opportunity to build connections easily first going into college. It was through the LLC that I met and developed a great friendship with my roommate and bonded with others to find guidance.”
• “I tell this story all the time because it’s what truly sticks with me. Freshman year, most of us had an 8 AM math quiz every Wednesday. Every Tuesday night, we’d congregate in the LLC study room and prepare until the early morning hours. Everyone helped, taught, and learned from one another. It was a great environment to not only study but to really get to know each other. That sense of community is what I enjoy most about CWIT—I still talk to many of those people four years later.”
• “My favorite memory was joining the CWIT LLC freshman year. My first friends at UMBC were people I could relate to and continue with the rest of my college career.”

Space on the CWIT floor is limited and highly sought after.

Incoming Students:

1. The CWIT LLC application is attached to the Office of Residential Life’s online application for on-campus housing. In the online application, you should indicate your interest in the CWIT LLC and then you will be asked to complete an additional LLC application.

2. Deadline: Submit your application and UMBC housing license by May 1.

Returning Affiliates and Scholars:

Current students living on the CWIT LLC floor can apply to live on the floor for next year by applying to be a Peer Assistant.  As a Peer Assistant, a volunteer position, students have the opportunity to develop leadership, programming, tutoring, and marketing skills while having a positive impact on the community.

Note: Placement on the floor is not guaranteed. We recommend having a backup housing plan, though all COEIT students are encouraged to join the CWIT Affiliates Program regardless of where they live!

The Affiliates Program exists to facilitate a strong sense of community and connection among students in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). Visit the CWIT Affiliate page to learn more about being a CWIT affiliate. Apply to the CWIT Affiliates program here!

Success in STEM isn’t just about technical skill; it’s about persistence. UMBC data confirms that while financial aid provides access, community affiliation is the true driver of long-term graduation.

Students in the CWIT LLC have a higher “resilience factor” because they have a 24/7 support system. When coursework gets difficult, they don’t drop out—they walk down the hall to talk to a friend who is going through the exact same thing. It’s not just a room; it’s a foundation for a success.