Link Up! Learning Communities

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Learning Communities?

Learning Communities are classes that are linked or clustered during a semester, often around an interdisciplinary theme, and enroll a common cohort of students. Learning communities are a holistic approach to education.

Why have Learning Communities?

Learning Communities provide advantages for students and faculty, enhance the curriculum, and improve the college environment. Benefits for Students include:

• Improve retention
• Increase student learning and achievement
• Increase time on task both in and out of class
• Promote active learning and teamwork skills
• Develop student leadership
• Increase the success rate for under-represented students
• Increase entry and completion in certain majors

Benefits for Faculty include:

• Increased experimentation within curriculum
• Broadened pedagogical repertoire of faculty
• Increased faculty engagement with one another
• Deeper interaction among faculty and students
• Promote interaction between junior and senior faculty
• Stronger relationships among faculty and students

Benefits for Curriculum

• Increased coherence of general education program
• Make curriculum more interdisciplinary
• Infuse skills such as writing and speaking across the curriculum
• Create more engaging entry points to certain majors
• Create coherent linkages for students in a minor

Benefits for the College

• Enhanced quality of undergraduate education
• Fosters a climate of innovation
• Increases the sense of community within the institution
• Promotes meaningful collaboration between faculty and staff, faculty and administration
• Promotes a culture of assessment, of learning about student learning

What happens in a Learning Community course?

The same students and teachers from both classes in the Learning Community work together for the entire semester. This results in:

• Greater interaction between students and faculty;
• Ideas from one class will be reinforced in the other;
• More sustained academic relationships with other students and faculty;
• A convenient, prime time class schedule with 6 credits of General Studies requirements;
• Coordinated assignments so you don't get overwhelmed! Instead of writing a paper for English and another paper for Sociology, you can combine your efforts and write just ONE paper for the assignment.

Revised 03/28/07