Jacqueline ElcikJacqueline ElcikDirector of Orientation and First-Year Learning InitiativesDirector of Orientation and First-Year Learning Initiatives

Michele WelkenerMichele WelkenerCoordinator of Living Learning Community ProgramsCoordinator of Living Learning Community Programs

Schools of Thought:Schools of Thought:Living Learning Communities & Living Learning Communities &

Academic/Student AffairsAcademic/Student Affairs

Miami UniversityMiami UniversityOffice of Residence Life and New Student ProgramsOffice of Residence Life and New Student Programs

http://www.muohio.edu/reslifehttp://www.muohio.edu/reslife

Advisory Training—July 21, 2004Advisory Training—July 21, 2004

LLC Presentation•What are Learning Communities? What are Learning Communities? (national (national perspective)perspective)

•What are Miami’s LLCs? What are Miami’s LLCs? (local perspective)(local perspective)

•Roles related to LLCsRoles related to LLCs

•Nature of the relationship between Nature of the relationship between Academic & Student AffairsAcademic & Student Affairs

•How can we improve this relationship?How can we improve this relationship?

•Q & AQ & A

Learning Communities often involve:Learning Communities often involve:

•Cohorts of students taking the same classesCohorts of students taking the same classes

•Interdisciplinary faculty teaching courses with a Interdisciplinary faculty teaching courses with a common themecommon theme

•Students forming study groups, spending time Students forming study groups, spending time socializing outside of class, and/or sharing strategies socializing outside of class, and/or sharing strategies for successfor success

•Collaborative activities and assignments that Collaborative activities and assignments that require students to work together and practice skillsrequire students to work together and practice skills

•Source: Source: Goodsell Love, A., & Tokuno, K.A. (1999). Learning community models. In J. Levine, (Ed.), Goodsell Love, A., & Tokuno, K.A. (1999). Learning community models. In J. Levine, (Ed.), Learning Learning communities: New structures, new partnerships for learningcommunities: New structures, new partnerships for learning (pp. 9-17). Columbia, SC: National Resource Center (pp. 9-17). Columbia, SC: National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina.for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina.

Characteristics of Learning Communities

•Students in large classesStudents in large classes (Freshman Interest Groups (Freshman Interest Groups—FIGS—an example)—small groups of students from —FIGS—an example)—small groups of students from large classes often linked by a seminarlarge classes often linked by a seminar

•Paired or clustered coursesPaired or clustered courses— 2 or more courses are — 2 or more courses are paired or linked together and taken by same group of paired or linked together and taken by same group of students (often a common theme)students (often a common theme)

•Team-taught coursesTeam-taught courses—faculty develop a common —faculty develop a common theme that fits the disciplines of the coursestheme that fits the disciplines of the courses

•Residence hall-based learning communitiesResidence hall-based learning communities—single —single course, paired or clustered courses, or team-taught course, paired or clustered courses, or team-taught courses; includes collaboration with Residence Life staffcourses; includes collaboration with Residence Life staff

•Source: Source: Hurd, S.N., & Federman Stein, R. (2004). Hurd, S.N., & Federman Stein, R. (2004). Building and sustaining learning communities: The Syracuse Building and sustaining learning communities: The Syracuse University experience.University experience. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing.

Learning Community Models

Mission of Living Learning Communities (LLCs) at Miami U.

The mission of Living Learning Communities at Miami The mission of Living Learning Communities at Miami University is to create and extend student learning University is to create and extend student learning opportunities outside of the classroom that heighten opportunities outside of the classroom that heighten student intellectual and personal growth. Living student intellectual and personal growth. Living Learning Communities are purposeful attempts to Learning Communities are purposeful attempts to integrate curricular with co-curricular experiences that integrate curricular with co-curricular experiences that complement and extend classroom learning. These complement and extend classroom learning. These communities foster faculty and resident interaction that communities foster faculty and resident interaction that enhances both intellectual and personal growth of the enhances both intellectual and personal growth of the residents. Each community is built around a specific residents. Each community is built around a specific field of study or area of interest and is structured so field of study or area of interest and is structured so students have a high degree of involvement in its students have a high degree of involvement in its formation.formation.

Division of Student Affairs—Mission

The mission of the Division of Student The mission of the Division of Student Affairs is to Affairs is to provide a supportive provide a supportive environmentenvironment and and create and extend student create and extend student learning opportunitieslearning opportunities outside the classroom outside the classroom that heighten student intellectual and that heighten student intellectual and personal growth and personal growth and produce citizen leadersproduce citizen leaders who make substantive contributions to their who make substantive contributions to their communities.communities.

Miami Plan for Liberal Education—Goals

Students should exercise skills related to:Students should exercise skills related to:

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

Understanding ContextsUnderstanding Contexts

Engaging with Other LearnersEngaging with Other Learners

Reflecting and ActingReflecting and Acting

Source: Source: http://www.units.muohio.edu/led/index.htmhttp://www.units.muohio.edu/led/index.htm

Miami’s First in 2009—GoalsGoal 1: A more highly qualified student bodyGoal 2: Greater academic support for facultyGoal 3: A stronger curriculumGoal 4: Richer intellectual/cultural lifeGoal 5: Greater diversity among students and facultyGoal 6: Enhanced facilitiesGoal 7: Stronger revenue baseGoal 8: Improved ability to learn from other institutions Source: http://www.orgs.muohio.edu/muasg/2009/

Living Learning Communities2004-2005

Celebrate the ArtsCelebrate the Arts Commuter CenterCommuter Center Environmental Awareness ProgramEnvironmental Awareness Program French Language Floor French Language Floor German Language FloorGerman Language Floor Health Enhancement & Lifestyle ManagementHealth Enhancement & Lifestyle Management Honors and Scholars Program Honors and Scholars Program International Living Learning CommunityInternational Living Learning Community Leadership, Excellence, & CommunityLeadership, Excellence, & Community

Living Learning Communities2004-2005, continued

Miami ManorMiami Manor MosaicMosaic Residential Service LearningResidential Service Learning Scholar Leader ProgramScholar Leader Program Scholastic Enhancement ProgramScholastic Enhancement Program Student Created ProgrammingStudent Created Programming Technology and SocietyTechnology and Society Western College ProgramWestern College Program Women in Math, Science, & EngineeringWomen in Math, Science, & Engineering

How do students get into LLCs?

First-year student housing processFirst-year student housing process Upperclass student housing processUpperclass student housing process

Living Learning Community Courses2004-2005

Celebrate the Arts—ART 182Celebrate the Arts—ART 182 Environmental Awareness Program—ENS 175 (BOT, Environmental Awareness Program—ENS 175 (BOT,

CHM, GLG, MBI, GEO, STA, ZOO) & ENG 111/112CHM, GLG, MBI, GEO, STA, ZOO) & ENG 111/112 French Language Floor—FRE 110French Language Floor—FRE 110 German Language Floor—GER 141German Language Floor—GER 141 Health Enhancement & Lifestyle Management—PHS Health Enhancement & Lifestyle Management—PHS

116 (A/D/P/S)116 (A/D/P/S) Honors and Scholars Program—HON 280T & ENG Honors and Scholars Program—HON 280T & ENG

111/112111/112 International Living Learning Community—(course International Living Learning Community—(course

under revision)under revision)

Living Learning Community Courses2004-2005, continued

Leadership, Excellence, & Community—EDL 306 & Leadership, Excellence, & Community—EDL 306 & ENG 111/112ENG 111/112

Mosaic—IDS 151 & ENG 111/112Mosaic—IDS 151 & ENG 111/112 Residential Service Learning—EDL 171Residential Service Learning—EDL 171 Scholastic Enhancement Program—(courses through Scholastic Enhancement Program—(courses through

program)program) Student Created Programming—First-year Experience Student Created Programming—First-year Experience

SeminarsSeminars Technology and Society—EAS 150T & ENG 111/112Technology and Society—EAS 150T & ENG 111/112 Western College Program—(courses through program)Western College Program—(courses through program) Women in Math, Science, & Engineering—WMS 130 & Women in Math, Science, & Engineering—WMS 130 &

ENG 111/112ENG 111/112

Living Learning Community Faculty/Professional Roles

Faculty/Professional Learning Community Faculty/Professional Learning Community for Enhancing Living Learning for Enhancing Living Learning CommunitiesCommunities

WHO: “WHO: “Senior” LLC faculty & professional staff who Senior” LLC faculty & professional staff who have responsibilities for coordinating instructors & have responsibilities for coordinating instructors & curriculacurricula

PURPOSE: PURPOSE: support programs bysupport programs by developing overall developing overall LLC curriculum and pedagogical strategies for LLC curriculum and pedagogical strategies for teaching and learning in this unique environmentteaching and learning in this unique environment

Living Learning Community Faculty/Professional Roles

Advisory CouncilsAdvisory Councils

WHO: WHO: Faculty, advisory staff and student Faculty, advisory staff and student representatives involved in a Living Learning representatives involved in a Living Learning CommunityCommunity

PURPOSE: PURPOSE: support program bysupport program by collaborating to collaborating to determine vision and mission and carry out vision determine vision and mission and carry out vision and mission for specific community—responsible and mission for specific community—responsible for guiding and managing curricular and co-for guiding and managing curricular and co-curricular effortscurricular efforts

Living Learning Community Faculty/Professional Roles

LLC Course InstructorsLLC Course Instructors

WHO: WHO: Faculty, professional and graduate staffFaculty, professional and graduate staff

PURPOSE: PURPOSE: support program by facilitating LLC support program by facilitating LLC course(s), meeting with other instructors, and course(s), meeting with other instructors, and collaborating with hall staff to promote related collaborating with hall staff to promote related programmingprogramming

Living Learning Community Faculty/Professional Roles

A date to remember:

August 19—noon- 1 p.m.Tappan basement (public)

LUNCH WITH LLC FACULTY

Meet and greet the faculty and staff who support our communities!

Advisory Staff Role—Expectations Related to LLCsAs mentioned earlier, the foundation is As mentioned earlier, the foundation is

comprised of…comprised of… TrustTrust SupportSupport ProfessionalismProfessionalism Being ethical Being ethical PlanningPlanning Embracing differenceEmbracing difference Commitment to student learning & developmentCommitment to student learning & development CommunicationCommunication Being “peacemakers”Being “peacemakers”

Advisory Staff Role—Expectations Related to LLCs Support LLC coursesSupport LLC courses

Advise students related to LLC courses Advise students related to LLC courses (remember, you are the first line of (remember, you are the first line of communication with students)—answer communication with students)—answer questions, send further inquiries to 529-4000questions, send further inquiries to 529-4000

Advertise available course seats to help fill Advertise available course seats to help fill sectionssections

Communicate walk-in hours for course sign-ups Communicate walk-in hours for course sign-ups or changes (LLC courses aren’t available on web or changes (LLC courses aren’t available on web for adds or drops)—Michele or Jackie will be for adds or drops)—Michele or Jackie will be available August 23, 9-noon; August 24-30, 8-5 available August 23, 9-noon; August 24-30, 8-5 p.m.; ENG sections are handled through ENG p.m.; ENG sections are handled through ENG dept. after August 20dept. after August 20

Meet faculty the first day of class—make sure Meet faculty the first day of class—make sure s/he and students have hall access, help with s/he and students have hall access, help with classroom needs (as appropriate), etc.classroom needs (as appropriate), etc.

Advisory Staff Role—Expectations Related to LLCs Hold an LLC Kickoff eventHold an LLC Kickoff event

Work with your staff to design and implement an Work with your staff to design and implement an LLC kickoffLLC kickoff

Scheduled with FYI events to be held:Scheduled with FYI events to be held:Sunday, August 22, 4:00- ? p.m.Sunday, August 22, 4:00- ? p.m.

Invite faculty and introduce them to studentsInvite faculty and introduce them to students Event should introduce students to the theme or a Event should introduce students to the theme or a

focus of the community (fulfill more than just a focus of the community (fulfill more than just a social purpose)social purpose)

If in need of funds for this kickoff, work with If in need of funds for this kickoff, work with coordinator or see Michele or Jackiecoordinator or see Michele or Jackie

Advisory Staff Role—Expectations Related to LLCs Serve on Advisory CouncilServe on Advisory Council

All communities will likely have some form of an All communities will likely have some form of an Advisory Council this year (in the works are 2 Advisory Council this year (in the works are 2 new Advisory Councils for Student Created new Advisory Councils for Student Created Programming Communities)Programming Communities)

First-year Student-Created ProgramsFirst-year Student-Created Programs Upperclass Student-Created ProgramsUpperclass Student-Created Programs

Meetings are generally 1 or 2 times a month Meetings are generally 1 or 2 times a month (communities have different needs/expectations)(communities have different needs/expectations)

Advisors are expected to be actively involved in Advisors are expected to be actively involved in meetings (reporting on programs, hall activities, meetings (reporting on programs, hall activities, issues; taking notes; providing feedback; issues; taking notes; providing feedback; seeking opportunities to collaborate; etc.)seeking opportunities to collaborate; etc.)

Advisory Staff Role—Expectations Related to LLCs Act as Programming Leader for LLCAct as Programming Leader for LLC

Guide staff in creating quality programs (key to Guide staff in creating quality programs (key to building community)building community)

More on this topic at 1:00 today, when More on this topic at 1:00 today, when Community Development Guide is discussedCommunity Development Guide is discussed

Monitor LLC program funding (details on funding Monitor LLC program funding (details on funding to be covered July 27)to be covered July 27)

Nature of the RelationshipBetween AA/SA From your experience at various institutions, From your experience at various institutions,

how would you characterize the relationship how would you characterize the relationship between Academic and Student Affairs?between Academic and Student Affairs?

How would you characterize this How would you characterize this relationship at Miami?relationship at Miami?

How do you think that this relationship could How do you think that this relationship could be further improved?be further improved?

What can you strive to do this year to work What can you strive to do this year to work toward these improvements?toward these improvements?

A Living Learning Community is like an aquarium An environment that requires maintenance An environment that requires maintenance

and careand care Comprised of different, yet potentially Comprised of different, yet potentially

compatible community memberscompatible community members Community members must feel comfortable Community members must feel comfortable

and connected to flourishand connected to flourish