WHAT IS A LEARNING COMMUNITY?

Anders, the Learning Community Program is more than a residence hall.  It's more than a social group.  It is an opportunity for you to live and learn with first-year students that have the same interests!

Choosing to live in a learning community means you will live with other first-year students in a specific area of the residence halls and you will take a number of your classes together.  By joining a learning community, you have the opportunity to connect with others who share your interests and passions from your first day on campus. 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF JOINING A LEARNING COMMUNITY?

PEER MENTORS: Each community will have a peer mentor, called a Learning Community Coordinator (LCC), who is an upper-class student dedicated to helping you set and achieve academic goals.  LCCs also help develop study groups within your community, plans social events, connects you with support resources on campus, and helps you navigate your new college life.

COURSE CONNECTIONS: When you enroll in a learning community, you and your fellow community members are automatically registered for courses that you’ll take as a group.  Courses often fulfill requirements for General Education as well the specific majors’ courses for your learning community. (If you have already taken any of the courses offered through a learning community, you can still participate.  Just be sure to let us know so we can be sure you are not registered for a course you already have credit for). Faculty members instructing your courses and from your planned majors will be involved with the learning community.  It might be an additional study session, a shared meal, or helping with your Make A Difference Project, but you’ll have a chance to interact with faculty outside of the classroom, an opportunity not all first-year students have.

EARLY MOVE-IN: As a member of a learning community, you will have the opportunity to move into the residence halls a day before everyone else (avoid the crowds). You will participate in activities that evening which will allow you the opportunity to get to know others in your learning community right away.  On move-in day, you will have the opportunity to get involved on campus by helping be part of the Stomper Move Crew (helping other new students move into the residence halls).   

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM: There is life outside of the classroom and your learning community will help you make the most of it.  Your LCC, others in your learning community, faculty and staff will help you find ways to get involved on campus in student organizations, academic clubs and in the greater Mankato Community.  Your learning community will choose and participate in a service project, either on campus or in the Great Mankato community.  This is called your Make a Difference Project.  Often, faculty work the learning communities to choose projects related to the major you are interested in.  During the year, we have a Make A Difference Celebration so you can learn more about others volunteerism as well.

SUCCESS: A Learning Community will provide you with academic and social support that leads to success.  Students who choose to live in a learning community have significantly higher grade-point averages, have more meaningful interactions with faculty, report a greater satisfaction with their overall college experience, and are more likely to graduate with a degree from Minnesota State Mankato.

If you have questions or want to find out what communities we have, visit: http://www.mnsu.edu/learningcommunities/