Great Books program introduces new living-learning community

Stephanie Bell and Warren McArthur are students part of the Great Books Society. (Brianna Lyttle/TheAQ)

Starting September 2025, a wing of the Holy Cross House residence on St. Thomas Univesity campus is now dedicated to students intending to major in Great Books.

In March 2025, the STU Great Books Instagram account announced that the 2025-26 academic year would see the introduction of its own living-learning community (LLC). 

The current literature on LLCs states that this helps students make the transition to university life and feel a sense of belonging, while also improving academic outcomes. Though LLCs are becoming increasingly common among North American universities, this marks the first one for STU.

Great Books Professor Matt Dinan said he came up with the idea during strategic planning.

“One of the strengths that we kind of agreed on was the community feel … where people can integrate their learning with the way that they’re living,” he said. 

While brainstorming, Dinan ended up with Residence Life Director Cory Flynn, which led to a discussion about LLCs. Because of the high volume of co-curricular programming in Great Books and its close-knit nature, the two thought it would make the most sense to use the program as a test pilot for an LLC.

Dinan described the addition of a residential component as “a natural outgrowth of a lot of the things [they] were already doing.”

“We build intellectual community into our pedagogy … we want to have discussion-based or conversation-based classes and we think that people are more able to take intellectual risks when they feel comfortable,” he said. “So we try to do everything we can to create an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable with the people they’re learning with.”

Kensea Aaron, president of the great books society, was “jealous” this initiative did not exist in his first year.

“It took me a couple months to really start building the strong, close relationships that I have with lots of the people in my classes outside the classroom … to get that opportunity earlier, I think it’s just a huge benefit.”

Aaron foresees the LLC providing good opportunities for studying and socializing, with hopes to integrate the student society into the community.

“I think its greatest benefit is going to be felt right at the beginning, when people are able to meet people who are going to be in their classes when they first get to STU, because getting to university is a scary time and it’ll help foster that conversation in the classroom.”

On Sept. 11, the society inaugurated the LLC. 

Future events are in the works, according to Great Books student Warren MacArthur, with the next one slated for October.

MacArthur’s role will involve proposing, organizing, and overseeing programming.

He also noted that the Holy Cross community at large is “vibrant” this year.

“We’ve got great community engagement so far. We’ve got excitement about the events. I’m anticipating large turnouts at what’s to come,” he said.

Every month, a lecture and dinner event will be held in which a faculty member will give a lecture on an area of interest and/or subject material not covered in class, followed by a “family dinner” in the meal hall. Those living off-campus have the option to get a meal card if they wish to attend.

Stephanie Bell, residence advisor for the LLC, said that the same event happened last year.

Though initially concerned that the already close-knit Great Books community could be overwhelmed by the LLC, Bell has found it to be a good balance.

Bell has enjoyed being able to have deep discussions with her peers after class and get live reactions to assigned readings.

“Getting that raw emotion that you won’t get if you wait till you get to the classroom … that’s cool to see and share that experience.”

There are no current known plans for another LLC, but the possibility is open. 

“It’s ultimately going to be up to faculty and students together to come up with or to devise ideas and themes that they want to see represented in communities,” said Dinan.

In the meantime, all look forward to seeing how the LLC will grow.

“Everyone seeking a liberal arts education understands that what we do in the classroom doesn’t stop there,” said Dinan.