All transfer students in their first semester with a major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
Program description
The purpose of the CALS Transfer residential learning community is to assist new students in making a successful academic, social, and personal transition to Iowa State University. Activities include guest speakers, agriculture tours and social activities. Students in the CALS Transfer learning community will also enroll in a common section of ENGL 302 (Business Communication). The learning community will have a transfer student peer mentor that will support students with the transition to Iowa State University.
Living Options
Housing in Frederiksen Court, the University owned apartments, is required for transfer students who participate in this learning community. CALS Transfer men and women are housed in separate 4 person (1 per bedroom) apartments.
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.” Registration for ENGL 302 takes place during transfer student orientation.
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
New transfer students in Psychology are eligible to join.
Program description
This semester-long learning community assists students in their transition to Iowa State and the Psychology department through opportunities to connect with peers, faculty, and resources on campus during their first semester. Students in the Psychology Transfer Learning Community enroll in the common course Psych 112, Section C, which is designed specifically for students transferring from other colleges or universities to Iowa State University (other new students will take either Psych 111 or other sections of Psych 112 for new freshmen). Completing this course and its related activities allows students to make meaningful connections with other psychology students, better understand departmental and college requirements, learn about opportunities and careers related to Psychology, and familiarize themselves with campus resources and services.
Students will also work with upper-level Psychology majors who will serve as peer mentors. The peer mentors will link students to resources within the department and across the Iowa State campus, provide academic support, and facilitate social activities within the learning community.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students are able to join the Psychology Transfer Learning Community at the time they sign up for classes by adding Psych 112, Section C to their schedule. Contact the Psychology Advising Office for help to add the class.
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.
