THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES

ACA Summit October 22, 2010

Dr. Melinda Dukes Dr. Pauletta Johnson Dr. Troy Goodale Mrs. Amanda Waddell

Mission Tusculum College provides a liberal arts education in a Judeo-Christian and civic arts environment.

Vision Tusculum College will be known throughout the mid-South for its adherence to Judeo-Christian values, its allegiance to the liberal arts, and its avenues for career preparation and civic engagement, all delivered through innovative course structures and personal attention from outstanding faculty

LEARNING COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW

Tusculum College LLC Program Mission The Living-Learning Community Program seeks to enhance the institutional commitment of participating first-time freshmen by providing an academically and socially enriched environment

Program Goals • Students experience an enhanced transition to college life• Students report a higher degree of academic integration • Students report an enhanced sense of social integration

“Student success does not arise by chance”Vincent Tinto

INDICATORS FOR LEARNING COMMUNITIES AT TUSCULUM

COLLEGE Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and cultivate positive working and social relations among different groups on campus

Supportive Campus Environment

Providing the support you need to help you succeed academically

F

K

Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities

Providing the support you need to thrive socially

K

OVERVIEW OF TUSCULUM COLLEGE LEARNING COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Murdock Circle

Patton Society

Quest Hurley Society

•A Living Learning Community for students interested in Social Science and Humanities•ACT English subscore 20-25, SAT verbal subscore 460-590 •2010 Theme: Leadership •56.3% Retention Rate

•Learning Community for students majoring in education licensure areas•High school GPA 2.75/4.0•2010 Theme :Teaching as Service •72.2% Retention Rate

•Learning Community for conditionally admitted students•ACT English subscore 19 or below, SAT verbal 450 or below and ACT Math subscore 18 or below, SAT subscore 450 or below •2010 Theme: Quest for Success •50% Retention Rate

•A Living learning community for students who are SSS eligible•ACT composite of 20•Qualify for SSS •Undecided major•2010 Theme: Students’ Search for Self•80% Retention Rate

2009-10 Satisfaction Survey Summary

•Are you satisfied with the outside of class academic activities presented by the faculty in your Learning Community?•Are you satisfied with the non-academic activities provided by the Learning Community program?•Are you satisfied with the academic and social support provided by the peer mentor(s) in your Learning Community?•Are you satisfied, overall, with the Learning Community program?

Learning Communities Combined Retention Rate

65.7%

Tusculum College Overall Retention Rate

58%

Is there a fit for learning communities (LC’s) with the overall institution mission?

What would be the academic objectives and mission of the communities?

Is there institutional investment capacity for LC’s or living learning communities (LLC’s)?

Is there faculty and staff capacity for LC’s?

QUESTIONS TO PONDER FOR YOUR OWN INSTITUTION

Murdock Circle

Leadership Thematic •Tusculum Experience •Composition and Rhetoric •Comparative Government •U.S. History, Creative Writing, Environmental Science •Physical Fitness and Wellness •Service Project•Weekly Group Meetings

Dr. Troy Goodale, Amanda WaddellPeer Mentor: Amber Sharp

Hurley Society

• Student Support Services/Federal TRiO programs

• Theme: Career Exploration: Students’ Search for Self

• Undeclared majors

• Environmental Science Immersion

Quest Quest: Achieving Full Potential • Jeannette Walls’ memoir,

The Glass Castle

• English, Math and Environmental Science

• West Virginia Coal Mining

• Concord University

Patton Society

Living Learning Community (2008-9) and Learning Community (2009-2011)

Diversity in Education- explore diverse cultures with the students at a local elementary school

Teaching as Service- Tusculum College Mentoring for Kids program

Is there a fit for learning communities (LC’s) with the overall institution mission?

What would be the academic objectives and mission of the communities?

Is there institutional investment capacity for LC’s or living learning communities (LLC’s)?

Is there faculty and staff capacity for LC’s?

QUESTIONS TO PONDER FOR TUSCULUM AND YOUR OWN INSTITUTION

IS THIS A PRACTICAL OPTION? IF SO, WHERE DO WE BEGIN???

A bit of advice…

Funding, Funding, Funding…

Student Selection

Peer Mentors

Faculty/Staff Mentors