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.
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.
”Students who join learning communities have a special opportunity to connect with classmates---form study groups, serve as sounding boards for one another, and even develop lasting friendships throughout their four years at ISU. Seeing the same familiar faces in two classes every week creates a comfort level many college first-years don't experience, and finding comfort in the classroom setting inevitably leads to smoother learning and more permanent retention of vital communication skills that translate to the workplace."
Majors eligible to join
Students of any major (including Open Option) who register for English 214 and English 250.
Program description
Students will learn about the background, practical application of, techniques of, and demand for technical writing and web design/usability in the U.S. and worldwide. Through written, oral, visual, and electronic communication skills, they will complete summaries and rhetorical analyses related to topics in technical communication. They will also delve into visual website design and rhetoric and learn to analyze and evaluate visuals both in terms of their messages and in their creation as TComm deliverables. Finally, they will master argumentation, acting as mediators in debates centered around technology, its use/misuse in the workplace, and its presentation in writing and multimedia. Because all students enrolled in this section of English 250 will also be taking the same section of English 214, this will encourage a sense of community and create shared learning opportunities. Within this single learning community, students can satisfy an Arts and Humanities requirement and an ISUComm Foundations requirement! Students will also gain a greater understanding of technical communications as a field, potentially adding it as a major, second major, or minor. Tech Comm was recently rated the 14th best job in the U.S. by Career Cast and other sources, meaning that majors in English and related fields are becoming more and more lucrative as the demand for strong communicators rises!
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students will have the opportunity to register for this learning community during spring registration and June Orientation.
Multicultural students (American Indian/Alaska Native, African American, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino/a, Multiracial) in any College of Liberal Arts and Sciences major.
Program Description
Are you looking forward to building a community with students of color this fall?
Do you want to learn more about campus resources and opportunities to get involved?
Would you like to develop a great relationship with a current multicultural student leader who could serve as your peer mentor, and become a life-long friend?
BOLD is a fantastic opportunity for first-year and new transfer students who are striving for academic, social and professional success. The BOLD Learning Community is designed to support the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ diverse student population with representation and retention, and you can be a part of it!
The BOLD Learing Community offers three main components:
Orientation course in the fall and seminar course in the spring
"Students should join a learning community because they are the foundation of your college career. Leaning communities get you involved with other students who are in the same class as you. This allows students to easily meet each other and form study groups. Learning communities are also externally important for networking and creating friendships. Interacting with students of either the same or different major allows students to form friendships that could last a lifetime. Also, the advisors of the learning community are a great network source, as they have had previous students going through the same thing you are. Learning communities helped me become the best I could be." -Michael
A student should join a learning community because it will not only provide personal development but professional development as well. Students will make endless personal and professional connections that will ultimately lead them onto a path of success. Students will be mentored and led by successful upperclassmen students and an instructor who has a passion to serve the learning community and provide students with the necessary resources to be successful. I believe joining a learning community is vital to success and would highly recommend it.—Christopher
Majors Eligible to Join
Any engineering major .
Program Description
Get the LEAD edge! The LEAD Learning Community is structured to support multicultural engineering students taking basic program courses (Chemistry, Math, and Physics).
The LEAD Living and Learning Community offers four main components:
Orientation courses in the fall (Engr 104) and spring (Engr 105)
Peer mentoring
A residential/living component
Course-clustered “learning teams”
The LEAD Learning Community is designed to assist in the development of the academic, professional and social support network of multicultural (African American, Latino/a American, Asian American, Native American, & Multi-racial) engineering students. LEAD Learning Community participants engage in professional development seminars, industrial plant visits, out-of-class community building activities, informal opportunities to interact with faculty and staff in the College of Engineering, and leadership and community service/volunteer experiences. In addition, LEAD members are assigned academic peer mentors who facilitate daily study sessions and assist with their transition to Iowa State University and the College of Engineering.
Students who choose to participate in the residential component of the LEAD Learning Community get the added benefit of living on the same residence hall floor with other multicultural engineering students and having the support of a residential peer mentor that lives on the floor and assists in the facilitation of extra-curricular activities.
Living Options
The LEAD Residential Learning Community is offered in conjunction with the ISU Department of Residence and is housed in Friley Hall on Meeker House.
Signing Up
To sign up for a residential learning community simply click on the “Learning Community” tab when filling out your Department of Residence contract on AccessPlus. You can go in and update or change your learning community preference information at any time up until the deadline without losing your “priority date.”
Once enrolled in the residential option of the LEAD Learning Community, registration for the course-clustered learning team takes place during summer orientation in the month of June.
The Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) is a supportive community dedicated to making STEM equitable and welcoming for all. The goal of WiSE is to provide the network and resources WiSE students need to excel in their studies, approach their career with confidence, and become advocates and leaders. Female students in a STEM major are automatically in WiSE.
This course equips WiSE students with skills needed to persist and thrive in their chosen STEM major at Iowa State and beyond. Students explore experiences of diverse women leaders in STEM fields, engage with peers across STEM fields, and develop community in small groups with peer leaders. This course also fulfills the U.S. Diversity requirement.
*this includes women who are cisgender, trans, of trans experience, etc.
Monthly events featuring food, speakers and activities! A great way to meet with other WiSE students and pursue personal and professional development.
Living Options
Residential clusters are designed to help students connect and build community with other female students in STEM. WiSE residential clusters options exist for first-year and transfer students.
All women in STEM are automatically in WiSE and will receive our newsletter, The Hoot, to their Iowa State email. Follow us on social media (@wise_isu) for the latest events and programs. Students are encouraged to stop into the WiSE Office at 218 Carver for studying, snacks and conversation!
