Elizabethtown College’s Business Department, under the leadership of Associate Professor of Business Law and Business Department Chair Dr. Sylvester Williams, created the first-ever Business Living Learning Community (LLC).

The Business LLC consists of 58 first-year male and female intended business majors and is located on the second and third floors of Myer Residence Hall. During a business department day this summer, the first-years signed up for the LLC. However, due to a lack of space, the College was unable to accommodate all of those interested in the Business LLC.

The Business LLC program’s main goal is to get students in the same area of business to interact with one another outside of the classroom as well as in the classroom. “The goal is to bring students who major in business together in a common environment,” Williams said.

The program offered a writing session led by adjunct professor  of English Tyler Grimm on Oct. 12 to stress the importance of writing skills in the workplace. This workshop was specifically geared toward the first-year business students.

Another objective of the Business LLC is to get business students to work together as a team. In order to reach this goal, students are given the opportunity to go on various trips throughout the year. One of these is a spring trip to New York City.

Another trip students can attend in the spring is to the Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce.  On this trip, students will work as a team in a scavenger hunt. “Teamwork is huge in the business world,” Williams said.

The Business LLC scheduled a trip on Oct. 28 to the Pennsylvania Capitol Building to meet with Senator Mike Brubaker to discuss government’s perspective on business.  However, the trip was cancelled.

The program can also help students determine which business concentration they want to pursue. Williams scheduled lectures and times for business faculty to come to Myer’s lounge and discuss their area of focus. On Nov. 13, Williams discussed business law with the students, and on Oct. 24, Edgar T. Bitting Chair of Accounting Dr. Terrie L. Riportella presented on accounting.

Leaders of the Business LLC are available to their students when it comes time to pick classes for the upcoming semester. “It is important that students do not take classes they do not need,” Williams said. The LLC provides real-world learning experiences — what Williams dubs, “Learning in 360 degrees.”