Sunderland Hall
This is the only first year residence hall that guarantees a private bedroom. Sunderland is designed as suites with 4 private bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and a common space. Sunderland Hall is reserved for the Living Learning and Themed Living Communities. Anyone interested in Sunderland Hall must apply to a LLC/TLC.
Living Learning Communities
Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) and Themed Living Communities (TLCs) provide an easier way for students to transition academically and socially into the Drury’s campus. LLCs are organized around themes and coincide with an academic class. All LLC themes will be the same theme of your FUSE 101 course. Students who are accepted into an LLC will attend class together and live on the same wing in their Residence Hall.
Themed Living Communities
Themed Living Communities (TLCs) are not linked to an academic class but are interest based and linked to an established student organization. Students will have the opportunity to live on the same wing with a cohort of students with similar interests and be a part of an organization that offers yearlong programing. Students in the TLCs will be required to officially join the coinciding student organization and be an active member.
As a result, LLC and TLC students quickly form social bonds with their peers and instructors, have a like-minded support group and access to staff and faculty mentors. LLCs and TLCs bridge the gap between in-class and out-of-class learning.
We will examine humanity and culture through art, music, theatre, and literature. We will attend art shows, theatre productions, and concerts.
In addition to teaching students about the many unique places you can visit as a future world traveler, this class will give you the skills and confidence to travel throughout your lives as well as the ability to appreciate travel as one of greatest educational experiences in life.
Only those freshmen planning to pursue a career in a health-science field should apply for this Living-Learning Community section. The programs in the following areas must be of interest to students interested in applying:
In Health, Wellbeing, and Happiness in a Modern American Culture, we explore the healthcare professions in American culture. We will examine the practicalities on getting admitted to a professional healthcare school in this day and age, as well as multiple explorations into the core competencies that are held in regard in the healthcare field such as commitment to learning and growth, empathy and compassion, cultural humility, oral communication, and more.
Calling all Fans! Do you love all things sports? From watch parties for the big game, participating in fantasy competitions to participating in intramurals, this TLC is for you! Students selected for this TLC will join the Fanthers Student Organization.
This TLC is for students who love to be active and participate in various athletic activities. Students accepted to this TLC will create intramural teams for various sports such as basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, pickleball, etc. Members of this TLC will also be encouraged to join the Ultimate Frisbee club and/or the Climbing Club.
This TLC is centered around Drury’s faith-based community. Students selected for this TLC will join one or more of the faith-based student organizations such as The Vine, Cru, Drury Christian Fellowship, etc. Members will also be connected to Dr. Charles Neff our campus Chaplin and Director of Campus Ministries
If you love throwing a party, planning events, or just making sure everyone is having a great time the Social Scene is the place for you! Students selected for this TLC will join Student Union Board (SUB). SUB members are the event planners for the student body and are responsible for Fall Fest, Homecoming, Spring Fling and many free activities on and off campus for students.
This TLC is for all gamers. If you love playing video games, board games or role-playing games, this TLC is for you. Students selected for this TLC will either join the Esports Club, Tabletop RPG Club, or for the more technical minded Drury Indie Game Studio.
This TLC is focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. Students selected for this TLC will join the Think Green student organization who works to promote awareness and to make the campus and community campus greener.
Are you the first person in your immediate family to attend a 4 year college or university? At Drury, we celebrate our first generation students and want to offer them support and guidance. The Panthers First TLC is for first generation students and will join the Panthers First student organization. This group provides mentors and hosts events that are not only fun but also provide extra support and information.
The Panther Pulse LLC focuses on wellness and prevention initiatives on campus. Students selected for this TLC will join the Panthers 4 Prevention (P4P) student organization. P4P hosts fun alternative events to promote healthy living and choices. They also host several awareness events such as Suicide Prevention Week, Keg on Campus, Love Week, and much more.
How to Apply:
If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Goodman, Director of New Student Programs, at jgoodman001@drury.edu. You can also review our Frequently Asked Questions.
You may request preferred suitemates on the LLC/TLC application. All must request each other on the application, all must rank the themes the same and all must be selected for the same theme. We will try to accommodate suitemate requests, but it is not guaranteed.
In order to be placed with requested suitemates or teammates in Sunderland, the instructions above must be followed. Coaches have no authority over Sunderland placements and cannot promise rooms, themes, or suitemate pairings in Sunderland.
Sunderland Hall and the LLC/TLCs are very competitive each year and not everyone can be selected. Those students not initially offered a spot will be placed on a waitlist. If a spot opens up, we will go down the waitlist based on application ranking and offer those spots.
Once LLC/TLC offers go out there can be no movement or additions to Sunderland unless someone else declines their spot. If you have a group that wants to live together and did not get selected for the same theme – those who got into Sunderland will have to decline their spot and the Housing Office will assign everyone rooms in Lydy Suites or Wallace Hall.
All rooms are offered and we will NOT remove a student that has been offered a spot to allow for a room change.
There is a possibility that students will be offered a spot in their 2-4 ranked theme choice. You can either accept the offered spot and aske to be placed on the waitlist for another theme, or you can decline your spot and request to be placed on the waitlist. If you decline, the Housing Office will assign you a room in Lydy or Wallace. If a spot opens up in your desired theme, we will go down the waitlist to offer those. No changes can be made unless someone from your desired theme declines or drops.
No, there is no additional cost outside the normal housing and meal plan rate of Sunderland Hall. Please see the Housing page for rates.
Selection and waitlist emails will go out the last week of April but prior to May 1.
You MUST use your Drury Email and Password to Access the Application.
If you have problems with your email or password – review the “Your DU Credentials” email, contact your admissions rep, or visit https://www.drury.edu/tech-services/password-login-support to reset your password.
What are the Benefits of Joining a Living Learning Community or Themed Living Community?
Nationally recognized research has consistently shown a correlation between social wellness and academic performance. Students who feel comfortable with their peers are more likely to participate in class, have a higher rate of satisfaction with their class and are more likely to get involved in campus life.
LLCs and TLCs exemplify our commitment to creating an intimate learning experience and we wish that we could enroll all students in the program. However, due to size restrictions, LLCs/TLCs participants are selected through an application process and are capped at 15-20 students per section. Students are not selected on a first-come first-selected basis. Drury selects students based solely on the quality of the applications and short essay answers received. Please read below for a list of this year’s LLC/TLC themes and the online application.
**Please note that themes will be offered based on student interest. The lowest ranked theme(s) may not be offered for the 2026-27 academic year.**
Faculty/Staff Mentors
Living Learning Communities encourage strong mentoring relationships between faculty/staff and students, as well as the value of developing communities of shared purpose. Nationally, research has consistently shown benefits of the interaction in Living Learning Communities and Themed Living Communities to include:
Paige Brennecke
Director of Orientation & New Student Programs