Though I had never heard of a “Learning Community,” it turns out that they are a pretty clever idea. It is a new concept to RWC. In fact, the fall quarter marked the first time it was available to students on our campus.
So what is this, you ask? The nuts and bolts are that it is a group of up to 25 freshmen who take a block of classes together throughout their first year. However, the idea behind forming these “communities” can be equated to the buddy system, but on a larger scale.
According to Jennifer Cohen, RWC Pre-early childhood education Learning Community representative, the focus is “to promote unity and to make [college life] a smooth transition.” And along the way you form friendships and that will out live your time in the group.
While this was the first “Learning Community” to exist at RWC, they have been very active and apparently, very successful. In less than two quarters, they have already had their spokesperson, Jennifer Cohen, elected as Vice-President of a council that helps govern these organizations. She was selected from among candidates of over 50 “communities.”
They also recently won a pizza party for having the most points of all the “communities” during the fall quarter. Points are assessed by members its groups working together socially, academically, and by volunteering. The RWC students earned their points for holding study groups and other academic and social events. They also hope to partake in community service activities in the future.
If this sounds like fun, and you are interested in joining, they still have a few slots available for spring quarter. Although most of the students in the current “Learning Community” are Pre-Early Childhood Education majors, all freshmen are eligible. The only requirements are that you are taking Composition 103 and Psychology 103. There is a specific call number for the block of classes that you would be taking with your fellow citizens, so please contact Professor Robin Lightner at robin.lightner@uc.edu or 936-7102 for more information.