Elon’s new EcoVillage Living-Learning Community offers a unique opportunity for students to deeply engage in sustainability practices. Elon University welcomed its inaugural group of 11 students into the EcoVillage at Loy Farm — a groundbreaking living-learning community designed to immerse students in sustainable living and environmental stewardship. The Living-Learning Community’s first six homes opened in fall 2024, each around 600 square feet with eco-friendly features such as solar power, green rooftops, stormwater reclamation and earth-sheltering.
The EcoVillage attracts students passionate about sustainable living and eager to share that knowledge. Residents define the community’s direction, applying classroom learning to real-world activities such as farming and educating others on sustainability, climate and environmental justice. An additional six homes will be constructed in 2025-26, providing housing for 24 students dedicated to learning about sustainable living and agriculture at Loy Farm.
Assistant Professors Jessica Navarro and Tony Reyes in the Department of Human Service Studies worked with students to design hands-on activity kits that strengthen community-based learning and support local service organizations. Funded by an Elon University Teaching Learning grant, the project created a lending library of adaptable kits for future students to use in internships, practicums, and community-based learning.
Students developed creative kits—from storytelling and gentle yoga to games and simulations—for adults, youth and children to adapt for different physical and cognitive needs. The kits reflect Elon’s commitment to collaborative, community-based education that benefits both students and the community.
Faculty from biology, philosophy, and world languages and cultures piloted a program with the Student Professional Development Center to integrate National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies into coursework. Students develop skills in career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology while learning to articulate their value to employers. Laurie Judge, senior associate director of career services, assisted student projects to measure impact. A Winter Term pre-pilot by Judge and Professor of Italian, Brandon Essay and Core Curriculum Executive Director Matt Buckmaster showed increased student proficiency in NACE competencies. The goal is to embed these competencies into courses in the College.
Elon’s Class of 2024 included the first six students to graduate from the new classical studies major. Introduced in 2021 as a standing course of study, the program focuses on the languages, history, cultures and far-reaching legacy of the Mediterranean world, and how its traditions continue to shape our modern world. Graduates say the scope and structure of the program meant it complemented many fields. Ava Crawford ’24 double majored in classical studies and art history. She says pursuing the classical studies major allowed her to learn more about her personal and academic interests, including art, history, literature, religion, astronomy and languages. Crawford says the program showed her how much of the world is interconnected. Many cited the program’s structure and scope as foundational to forging meaningful academic paths, underscoring how faculty mentorship and an interdisciplinary framework enriched their learning experience.
