Learning Communities
What is a Learning Community?
A Learning Community (LC) is a group of students who live in the same area in the halls and share a common interest. Learning communities provide unique opportunities and important academic focus. Learning communities are currently available for honors students, or students interested in education, health professions or outdoor learning.
What Learning Communities Are Available?
For the 2009-2010 academic year we will have the following Learning Communities:
College of Education Learning Community
Health Professions Learning Community
Outdoor Learning Community
University Honors Learning Community
Women Involved In Leadership and Learning (WILL) Learning Community
To apply for a learning community, choose an LC on your application when you apply for housing.
College of Education Learning Community
Thinking about becoming a teacher? Already enrolled in the College of Education? Consider becoming a member of the College of Education Learning Community.
The College of Education (COE) Learning Community is open to students that are interested in enrolling in or are currently enrolled in the Teacher Education Program. This includes students that are interested in becoming an Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special Education teacher.
This Learning Community allows students interested in pursuing a degree in Education to live together in Turner Hall. Students can thrive in this type of environment because they will often be enrolled in the same classes, can study together, and will share similar experiences in the K-12 classroom during student teaching. Fun monthly programs where students in this Learning Community participate in activities with resident advisors, other students, and faculty in the COE are also planned.
To learn more about the College of Education, including information on majors, programs of study, student teaching, and important application deadlines, please visit the College of Education website. If you have questions about the College of Education Learning Community, please contact Dr. Sara Helfrich at 208-282-2804 or helfsara@isu.edu.
Health Professions Learning Community
The Health Professions Learning Community (HPLC) is open to all students majoring or minoring in a health professions subject area.
Outdoor Learning Community
A Learning Community is a group of students who live in University Housing and share a common interest. The Outdoor Learning Community (OLC) will cover the interests of those living in the OLC – including rock climbing, caving, mountaineering, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, white water kayaking and rafting, kayak touring, outdoor survival, Dutch oven cooking, and more. Basically the OLC is for those that share an interest and passion for the outdoors.
The goals of the Outdoor Learning Community are to provide students opportunities:
• To establish lasting friendships based on respect, trust, open communication, and a shared love for the outdoors.
• To experience various leadership roles with the planning and execution of outdoor adventure outings.
• To learn and apply the principles of Leave No Trace.
• To develop an appreciation for contemporary jazz, primarily the distinctive sounds of Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and its importance to the outdoor experience.
• To develop and strengthen skills to enable participation in human powered outdoor activity such as, but not limited to backpacking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, whitewater rafting, caving and wilderness survival.
• To give back to the community and the environment through service projects.
Students enrolled in the Outdoor Learning Community will be expected to:
• Attend group meetings.
• Participate in one community service project each semester.
• Participate in at least two group outings each semester.
• Participate in at least one skills activity each semester.
• Demonstrate respect for each other, their community and the world they live and play in.
For questions about the OLC, contact Peter Joyce at 208-282-3912 or joycpete@isu.edu.
University Honors Learning Community
The University Honors Program (UHP) is a small community of high-achieving and enthusiastic academic students at ISU. UHP students take classes together, establish study groups, participate in extracurricular UHP activities, and form lasting friendships. The UHP Living & Learning Community furthers the development of this camaraderie by housing students together and developing stimulating, educational, and entertaining activities that make attending college a pleasure and a well-rounded educational experience. If you have been admitted to the UHP and would like this Learning Community, select the Honors LC on your Housing Application.
Women Involved in Leadership and Learning (WILL) Learning Community
Women Involved in Leadership and Learning (WILL) is a residential leadership program that focuses on promoting achievement and leadership among undergraduate women students. The program enhances the collegiate experience through coursework in women and gender studies and leadership studies, gender-related programs and internships outside the classroom, and involvement in a student-governed leadership organization. For more information, please visit the WILL website. To apply to join this community you must complete a WILL application along with the regular University Housing application.
View the WILL postcard.
Detailed information on other LCs is coming soon!
To Apply to live in a Learning Community:
Select the LC on your University Housing application and submit your housing deposit.