This learning community is available for Aerospace Enginering (Aer E) students who have completed Engl 250. Students in this learning community will enroll in Aer E focused sections of Engl 314 (Technical Communication). By enrolling in the learning community linked sections of Engl 314, students will learn technical communication focused on the types of reports, documentation, and presentations that they will be using in upper level Aer E courses and within the aerospace engineering industry.
Living Options
None
Signing Up
To register for this learning community, students should work with their academic advisor.
The
purpose of the Environmental Engineering Learning Community is to help
new first-year and transfer students transition to collegiate life at Iowa State,
explore professional opportunities in the environmental engineering field, and connect
with other students in the major. Students will be placed in teams, led by peer mentors who will help them get acclimated to campus and engage with students in groups as well as one-on-one, both in and out of the classroom. The Learning Community will help students develop the personal and leadership skills needed to succeed in the major and future careers. The course component of Learning Community (Env E 120) will include activities such as Career Fair preparation, course planning and registration, work site tours, and faculty interactions. This learning community is designed to allow students to enroll in a number of common courses with peers in their major.
Living Options
None
Signing up
New student orientation and regular course registration.
All Data Science majors and students in Open Option are eligible to join.
Program description
The Data Science Learning Community is designed to assist Data Science majors in their transition to Iowa State University by providing a support framework of knowledge, resources, and people. All Data Science majors will enroll in the same DS 110 orientation course and will have other clustered courses with members of the learning community. Students have close connections with a Data Science peer mentor in the orientation course and other meetings designed to assist in learning about data science, group interaction skills and academic problem solving in order to increase success and retention.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students will have an opportunity to register for this learning community during the class registration portion of summer orientation.
First-year students majoring in Advertising or Public Relations, and Open Option students
Program description
This
learning community serves first-year students who plan to major in advertising or public relations. It will help them become better
consumers, creators, and brand storytellers, and it will promote connections with
other students in the major, as well as with faculty and staff in the
Greenlee School. A second learning community in the Greenlee School
serves students planning to major in journalism,
and the two Greenlee learning communities will have opportunities to
interact, especially through social events.
All students will be
enrolled in one of two sections of JL MC 110 set aside for the learning
community. Most will also find themselves in class together in JL MC 101
and ADVRT 230 or PR 220.
This learning community will also introduce
participants to opportunities for working with student media, clubs, and
other organizations that will foster and showcase their skills during
their four years in the Greenlee School.
If you are pursuing a major in Criminal Justice, consider joining the Criminal Justice League Learning Community! You will join a group of about 35 first-year students in two shared classes and a seminar where will learn about your major, crime and the societal and criminal justice response to it, on-campus resources and activities, and future careers. You will connect with faculty and students both in and outside the classroom through activities like lively in-class discussions and fascinating field trips to local criminal justice agencies. You will imagine your future career and the steps necessary to achieve your goals by visiting Iowa State’s career fairs and discovering possible internship and job opportunities. You will collaborate with an academically successful peer mentor, who is a junior or senior in the Criminal Justice major.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Register for this learning community during summer orientation and class registration.
This learning community is for new Linguistics majors as well as any student who is interested in language and how it works, seeking especially students in World Languages and Cultures, International Studies, U.S. Latinx Studies, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, and Open Option.
Program description
The Science of Language Learning Community is a non-residential learning community for students who are interested in languages, linguistics, and language science. The goals of SOL are to foster community among undergraduate linguists, develop critical thinking skills around language, broaden linguistic understanding of language as a science, and to help students become aware of possible future directions in these fields. As part of SOL, students will take three linked courses together: LING/WLC 119 Introduction to World Languages, ENGL 214 Introduction to Technical Communication, and LING 101 Introduction to the Study of Linguistics. SOL fulfills multiple LAS requirements including up to 6 credits towards Arts and Humanities requirements as well as International Perspectives.
Living Options
None
Signing up
New students will have an opportunity to register for this learning community during orientation and class registration. Transfers and Change of majors can sign up during fall class registration by contacting the coordinator.
All multicultural students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are eligible.
Program description
The FOCUS Learning Community is a multicultural peer mentorship program that is designed to support incoming students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The program provides academic, social, and professional connections to aid in the successful transition to college. Students will participate in enriching activities that will help them develop a strong sense of community.
Benefits of FOCUS
Receive one-on-one guidance from a peer mentor
Successfully navigate your first-year experience
Increased opportunity for academic success
Attend fun monthly social events to build community and strong connections
Develop a strong network of peers to support you through your academic journey
Living Options
No residential options are affiliated with the program.
Signing up
Contact Jahmai Fisher, fisherj@iastate.edu, to learn more about the program and how to get involved.
"The best part of being in a learning community is the mentor/mentee connection that you can make and getting to know other students in the same boat as you." - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student
Majors Eligible to Join: All Open Option, Pre-Health, Pre-Med, and Pre-Law students are eligible to join.
Program Description:
The HOME Learning Community is a first-semester program designed to support exploring students. The program provides a structured process for students to explore majors and careers while creating a home at Iowa State. Students receive support from connections with peer mentors, academic advisers, and faculty.
Benefits of HOME include:
Provide you with a structured framework through which you can successfully explore three majors or careers.
Connect you with information, resources, and people that can support you through the exploration process.
Give you opportunities to practice and therefore develop confidence in your ability to make decisions.
Living Options
No residential options are affiliated with the program
Signing Up: Students will sign up during Orientation. Please ask your advisor for more information.
First-Year Software Engineering students are eligible to join.
Program description
The Software Engineering Learning Community is a non-residential, course-based learning community program for first year software engineering students. Students will take a set of required courses with other software engineering students. In the fall semester, students will take a first-semester course, S E 101: Software Engineering Orientation. The goal of this course is to provide an engaging learning environment for first semester freshmen to learn policies, procedures and expectations at Iowa State University. Students will find resources for personal and academic success, as well as learn about educational requirements. Students will also be enrolled in common courses and participate in structured activities.
During spring semester, students will participate in S E 166: Software Engineering Careers. The goal of this course will be for students to learn of the career opportunities for Software Engineering majors and interact with potential employers. Students will continue to take common courses and participate in activities.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students will have an opportunity to register for this learning community during June Orientation.
The Multicultural Vision Program (MVP) Scholarship is awarded to 100 incoming, multicultural freshmen students who are Iowa residents. Students are eligible to receive the full-tuition scholarship for 8 continuous semesters by maintaining their cumulative GPA at a 2.0 or higher. The MVP learning community provides students with opportunities for academic success, career development, identity development and leadership development.
Specifically the program provides:
First year seminar courses (PSYCH 131 and UST 102A)
Academic support and tutoring
Assessment of learning ability using the College Student Inventory (CSI)
Individual meetings to help students develop an integrated academic and social plan for academic success
Meetings with essential university offices and departments to connect students with campus resources
Peer mentoring with sophomore and junior students
Cohort/team building activities that encourage a sense of belonging and inclusion
Funding to support professional development (i.e. registration for professional conferences, travel expenses associated with professional conferences in a student’s major, professional organization dues)
Living Options
None currently.
Signing up
This Learning Community and its courses are only open to recipients of the MVP Award.
