Learning Community Program

Fall 2008 Learning Communities and Online Reply Form is available here...

A learning community is a group of 25-28 students enrolled in a common set of freshman courses. Each cluster is designed to satisfy Liberal Education Program (LEP) requirements while introducing courses recommended by possible majors.

Participation Requirement

All first-year CLA undecided freshmen are required to participate in the Learning Community Program. Learning community course enrollment is for fall semester only. With assistance from your academic advisor, you will select a different set of courses for spring semester.

Benefits to Students

Each learning community has been designed to expose first semester freshman students to some of UMD’s best courses and instructors. Care has been given to ensure a balanced schedule related to class size, format, and subject areas.

Additional benefits include:

• priority registration into some of UMD’s most popular courses,
• unique opportunities to connect with faculty as well as with other students,
• connection with some of the same students in multiple classes, and
• facilitation of major and career exploration.

 

Fit Within Degree Requirements

Undecided students are as concerned about graduating in four years as students with declared majors. In order to earn a degree, all students are required to complete UMD’s Liberal Education Program, a major, an upper-division composition course, and electives in order to reach a minimum of 120 credits. (Some degrees also require completion of a minor.) While a major and minor provide students with areas of specialty, the Liberal Education Program provides a broad education. Since all UMD degrees require completion of the Liberal Education Program, it is a logical place for first-year students to begin their college education. Thus, each learning community is composed of courses that fulfill portions of the Liberal Education Program.

LC Integrative Seminar

CLA 1001 Learning Community Integrative Seminar (1 credit) is a core requirement of each learning community. The seminar supports integration of the Liberal Education Program curriculum within the context of intellectual growth, academic goal setting, and major exploration. Study groups and social activities are also coordinated through this course.

CLA 1001 is taught by both a faculty member and a peer teaching assistant (TA). You will have an opportunity to learn from an outstanding faculty member who enjoys teaching and mentoring new students. The TA will provide guidance related to college success strategies and campus resources.

CLA 1001 meets during the first eight weeks of the semester. Think of the course as a launching pad for a successful college experience. Your TA will continue to be a resource to you during the last half of fall semester.

What Your Learning Community Isn’t

• Your learning community isn’t your only means for connecting with peers. In most learning communities, students study together, spend time discussing class material, and generally support each other. However, you will have many additional opportunities to meet other students and to participate in co-curricular activities outside your community.

• CLA 1001 isn’t an intensive study strategies course. Students who need to hone their study skills are encouraged to enroll in SSP 1054 College Study Strategies (1 credit). Ask your advisor about SSP 1054 during Advisement & Registration.

• Participation in a learning community isn’t a guarantee of success. Your learning community will provide you with the tools necessary to make a successful academic transition; however, it will be up to you to participate as a positive community member and to make the most of your college experience.

4 Components of Each Community

The courses included in each community fall into four basic components. These components guarantee you will not only make excellent progress on completing your degree but will also provide you with a well-rounded course schedule your first semester.

1 Writ 1120 College Writing is a three-credit course required of all UMD students. It fulfills one of the core requirements of UMD’s Liberal Education Program. Each section of Writ 1120 enrolls twenty-eight or fewer students.

2 Two courses that fulfill additional core requirements of the Liberal Education Program. These courses are what make each learning community unique. Most are large, lecture courses and enroll anywhere between sixty and three hundred students.

3 CLA 1001 Learning Community Integrative Seminar (1 credit) will introduce you to the college environment and provide academic support during your first few weeks at UMD.

4 Choice of one to two additional Liberal Education courses. At Advisement & Registration, your academic advisor will assist you with this selection. In the meantime, here are a few guidelines to consider:

• Select a math course if you are leaning toward a science, engineering, or computer-related major or if math is an academic strength of yours. Refer to your Advisement & Registration materials for information regarding placement into your first math course. Most UMD math courses earn 4 or 5 credits.
• Select a foreign language course if you are considering pursuing a major or minor in a foreign language or international studies or if you are entering UMD with a second language deficiency, e.g. if you did not complete two years of high school foreign language. Foreign language courses typically earn 4 credits. You will receive assistance choosing the correct level of foreign language when attending Advisement & Registration.
• Select a course from a Liberal Education category you are not covering through your learning community. This may be a course related to a major or minor you are exploring or simply a subject that interests you. Again, you academic advisor will assist you with this course selection. Liberal Education courses vary from 1 to 5 credits. Additional information is available at www.d.umn.edu/catalogs/current/umd/libed.html.

Academic Advisement

During Advisement & Registration, you will meet with an academic advisor to discuss your learning community choice and to select additional fall semester courses.

You will be preregistered for your learning community courses prior to meeting with your academic advisor. Learning community enrollment is a package – meaning, you must remain enrolled in CLA 1001 and your two core Liberal Education courses. (See Common Advisement Issues for additional information pertaining to Writ 1120.) Thus, be sure to carefully review the different learning communities and to select a community that matches your interests or simply allows you to explore new subject areas.

Common Advisement Issues

You will receive assistance with these and other advisement issues during Advisement & Registration:

• Students who have completed or are currently completing a course equivalent to Writ 1120 College Writing will cancel Writ 1120 from their fall schedules and choose another course from the Liberal Education Program.
• Students planning on completing the AP English exam will remain in Writ 1120 College Writing, until they have received their AP results. If a 4 or better is earned on the AP exam, contact the CLA Student Affairs and Advising Center to process a schedule change.
• Students who would benefit from additional writing support prior to enrolling in Writ 1120 College Writing will cancel Writ 1120 and add SSP 1052 College Writing Strategies (2 credits). SSP 1052 provides an excellent opportunity to hone grammar and basic writing skills. Your advisor will provide guidance related to enrollment in SSP 1052.
• Students who have completed or are currently completing college-level coursework through PSEO or CITS should select a learning community that offers courses that do not overlap with previous college course work.
• Students leaning towards a science major will delay enrollment in a lab science course until spring semester. However, potential science majors are strongly encouraged to enroll in a math course fall semester.

 

Contact: Mary Keenan, CLA Student Affairs and Advising Center (Kirby Plaza 310), mkeenan@umn.edu; 218/726-7009 with further questions.