Learning Communities

A learning community links two or more courses, often around an interdisciplinary theme or problem. Faculty who teach the courses may create cross-course assignments, schedule class activities together, and explore meaningful connections between the community courses and disciplines.

Synthesis Seminar

The synthesis seminar is a requisite component of first-year learning communities. A peer facilitator leads the weekly, hour-long seminars; the topics under discussion range from issues related to the learning community courses to college life in general.

Peer Facilitators

Peer facilitators are motivated upperclassmen, who serve as mentors, teachers and guidance counselors to first-year students. They lead the synthesis seminars, which are important components of learning communities, and as such lead discussions and guide new students through the academic and social resources available on the campus.