Frequently Asked Questions about Learning Communities
What if I already have college credit for a course in the Learning Community?
For all communities, except Nursing, students do not have to take all the courses listed for the Learning Community. When you attend orientation, you will work with an academic advisor to obtain the best schedule. Students also meet with an advisor before spring semester to make a course schedule as well. Nursing students are required to take all the courses in the Learning Community to be accepted into the community.
What time commitment is required to be in a Learning Community?
How does the saying go? "You will get out of it what you put into it". The same goes for the Learning Community. Your Learning Community Coordinator will offer weekly study sessions and activities (about 3 hours total). These activities will help you get to know others better, help you engage with faculty, get to know more about campus, help you be more successful in your classes or give you resume building opportunities. So there is no specific answer here: attend what you can and stay in touch with your LCC to help you be successful.
Can I still live with my preferred roommate, even if they are not in the Learning Community?
YES! We will work to accommodate roommate requests, please just know that if you do not meet the priority housing deadline with residential life, we will work with you to live on the Learning Community floor together.
Do I have to live on the Learning Community floor of the residence hall?
We encourage you to live on campus with others in your Learning Community because that's where much of your networking and informal learning takes place. However, we understand that is not ideal for all students, so we are not requiring students to live on a specific floor or on campus at all. If a student chooses the Learning Community housing, they will be assigned to renovated double room (Crawford A, B, D, McElroy E, F, H or Preska I). Renovated rooms have in-room air-conditioning and share a community bathroom with the floor. Learning Community students are housed with other students in the same learning community if they also chose Learning Community housing.
Honors students are required to live in the renovated double housing.
Students in our Sophomore Learning Communities are not required to live on campus. If you have any questions about accommodations, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’ll be happy to help!
How many people are in each Learning Community?
Our learning communities have no more than 25 students each. We want to be able to build a community with all of our students. That means you have a peer mentor (who has been in your shoes before) that is available to help you and your peers in a smaller community setting.
What benefits will a Learning Community provide?
Not only does a Learning Community offer extra support from peers and faculty, being a part of a Learning Community helps you become connected with potential careers, a structured academic plan to help you graduate within 4 years. Research show that students within a learning community tend to have a higher GPA and finish college faster (that is money in your pocket!) than those who do not participate! Learning Community students have a built in support network the moment they step onto campus.
I can’t find a Learning Community that fits?
Unfortunately we do not have a perfect Learning Community for every major. Certain learning communities are very major specific, while others offer help to a wider range of majors or areas of study. Check out our First Year Learning Communities page to see what majors fit best with each learning community. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to contact us! We might be able to help you find one that will work for you!
