Most students entering UConn take a First Year
Experience (FYE) class. Enrollment in a Learning
Community (LC) provides the opportunity to take
the FYE class with hall mates in the residence hall.
The class meets one hour per week, and the instructor
and peer mentor coordinate their efforts with staff
from the residence hall and also with faculty teaching
other classes that may be associated with the LC.
In addition to required assignments for the FYE
class, there may be optional events, activities,
volunteer opportunities, chances to form study groups,
and so forth in the residence hall and around campus.
When one or more additional classes are associated
with a Learning Community, instructors collaborate
with each other and with residence hall staff to
create an integrated program for the LC. For example,
in the Community Service LC, students in 2007 took
English 1010 and FYE in the fall, and instructors
coordinated both course work and volunteer work
with the writing assignments in the classroom --
and films shown in the evening in the residence
hall. Students also participated in a high and low
ropes course as a community, along with their instructors.
What a great way to learn! In spring 2008, students
are continuing their learning together by taking
the second-semester FYE class, and Sociology 1001W*,
a small sociology class that provides an academic
context for the community outreach that engages
the students. Students will build on their writing
experience from the fall with a professor who is
tuned into their individual experience as volunteers
the previous semester. Programming on the residence
hall floor will continue to be integrated with the
two courses the students are taking together. Check
out the Community Service page to see photos from
the ropes course experience.
Each Learning Community is unique, yet the effort
toward integration of programs, and hence student
experience is found in each community.
*W is for the strong writing component of this
class, a graduation requirement at UConn
Students in some LC's will take a selection of their
required or general education classes together so
they can benefit from learning together as a community.
Please visit the list of
Our
Communities to find out what classes are included
in your LC.
