Residential Life programs provide a boarding school with uniquely important opportunities for students to learn and develop beyond the academic curriculum.  Boarding Schools who value and invest in their Residential Life programs with the same priority as they do their academic programs foster greater in-depth learning for their students.  It is in these residential opportunities that they develop readiness not only for their next academic step but for marketable and valuable skills necessary to be successful in the workforce and their community.  Schools who choose to invest in Residential Life will see greater success in their graduates becoming productive members of society due to their resultant emotional, social, physical, and life skill development. 

Residential Life programs provide both the opportunity and obligation to create a curriculum that fosters life skills, character, resilience and community values. Such learning ensures the development of personal wellness, self-confidence and the social agility of each student. Students can discover their capacity in ways an academic program alone can not accomplish.

One foundational aspect of residential life programs are intentional considerations of dorm structure. Programs for dorm living will help to build a strong campus community, and also communicate to families the value and conscious effort placed on creating a caring environment where it is safe to challenge themselves. One intricate part of dorm living are roommates. Roommates provide students with real life opportunities to learn how to problem solve, communicate, cooperate, and compromise while being supported by an educated and talented Residential Life Faculty.  Teaching youth how to effectively engage with others, and to work through issues and projects, will increase empathy, understanding and skills in conflict resolution and communication. Such skills are vital for success in college, the workplace, and the larger community. 

By expanding the curriculum beyond the typical academic considerations, boarding schools like The Leelanau School are equipping students with skills they will need in future educational institutions, career placements, and community involvement. We are preparing the future leaders of the world with the skills to be both academically and interpersonally intelligent.  

It is all part of discovering a Better Way To Learn.