Learning Communities Overview

MISSION. KSU’s Learning Communities (LC) Program promotes the academic success and retention of students through programmatic structures that enhance student learning, personal development, and overall satisfaction with the university experience.

MODEL. Two or more general education or lower level major courses are linked together by a common theme. The same 25 students (or fewer) co-enroll in all courses within a learning community and work closely with each other and their professors. LC faculty collaborate to help students make intellectual connections across and between their courses.

  • Students who enroll in learning communities during their first semester are more likely to stay in school and graduate. Faculty and students report that LC students are more engaged in the classroom, have fewer absences, and are more satisfied overall with the university experience. Learning Communities that emphasize collaboration and integrative learning, like those at KSU, are considered a High Impact Practice (HIP) by the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) because learning communities tend to have a positive transformational effect on students.
  • Faculty who teach in learning communities collaborate with faculty outside of their own departments and disciplines, often leading to a sense of renewal and increased engagement with the university. Learning Communities promote deeper interactions among students and faculty, as well as faculty and Student Affairs professionals. LC instructors increase their repertoire of student-centered pedagogical practices by participating in LC faculty development opportunities and by sharing ideas with each other. LC faculty are encouraged and supported in their pursuit of scholarly teaching for deep student learning.
  • Learning Communities increase retention, progression, and graduation rates, according to both national and institutional research. LCs align with the university’s vision and mission, as well as its RPG and Complete College Georgia initiatives. LCs promote a culture of collaborative learning and teamwork among students, faculty, and student affairs professionals.  Many learning communities participate in community service projects, nurturing positive town and gown relationships while furthering community engagement goals.

  • The LC Program welcomes new and returning faculty to teach in Learning Communities. Since most LCs are for first-semester college students, the need is especially high for faculty who teach General Education courses and other lower-level courses without pre-requisites. We encourage proposals for learning communities twice annually by issuing a campus wide call for proposals through KSU Inform.

    • The Call for Proposals for Spring LCs is generally in late August through early September.
    • The Call for Proposals for Fall LCs is generally mid-October through mid-November.
    • If you would like to teach in a learning community but do not want to propose one of your own, send us an email indicating your interest and the course(s) you teach, and we’ll help you find one!  Our email address is lc@kennesaw.edu.

  • Individually:

    • Complete a short online training course (found on D2L).
    • Encourage your students to participate in Learning Community Program activities, such as the Academic Extravaganza and National LC Assessment Survey.

    As a Team:

    • Plan at least one integrative assignment.
    • Plan at least one out-of-course activity.
    • Review each others’ syllabi to ensure tests/projects aren’t assigned on the same day.
    • Create a plan for sustained communication.
    • Submit your planning worksheet before the start of fall semester.
    • Consultations for research projects and integrative assignments
    • Annual Academic Extravaganza: Learning Communities Showcase & Celebration - a forum for showcasing integrative assignments to the larger campus community. Prizes and awards for outstanding work are given to students and faculty.
    • Faculty Development Opportunities
    • A letter for your portfolio documenting participation, as well as evidence (if provided) of scholarly teaching in a learning community

Learning Communities Advisory Council

The Learning Communities Advisory Council (LCAC) is an internal body dedicated to improving and expanding learning community experiences for students at Kennesaw State University. The LCAC reviews and approves learning community proposals and serves as a consulting team for Learning Community Program staff. LCAC members serve as liaisons between their colleges/units and the Learning Communities Program.

Members serve two-year, renewable terms. If you are interested in serving on the LCAC, please contact Natasha Lovelace Habers, Director of Learning Communities.

  • maria bell

    Marla Bell

    Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Science and Mathematics and Professor of Statistics

    Ruth Goldfine

    Chair of the Department of First-Year and Transition Studies and Professor of English
    ruth goldfine
    natasha lovelace habers

    Natasha Lovelace Habers

    Assistant Chair of the Department of First-Year and Transition Studies, Interim Director of Learning Communities, and Professor of Art

    Tommy Jackson

    University College Advising Director
    tommy johnson
    lori lowder

    Lori Lowder

    Interim Associate Dean of Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

    Julie Newell

    Special Assistant to the Provost and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies
    julie newell
    carmen skaggs

    Carmen Skaggs

    Associate Dean for Academic Support and Professor of English

    Hillary Hettinger Steiner

    Interim Associate Director for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
    hillary steiner
    burnak trivedi

    Nirmal Trivedi

    Director of First-Year Seminars and Assistant Professor of English

    Ralph Wilson

    Associate Chair of the Department of English and Professor of English
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Learning Communities Proposals

The LC Advisory Council puts out a campus-wide Call for Proposals annually. Faculty and teaching staff on both campuses are invited to submit proposals using the following link: kennesaw.edu/learningcommunity. Proposals are accepted in early October.

    • By definition, Learning Communities must contain at least two courses.
    • At least one course in each Learning Community must be limited to the Learning Community students. The maximum number of students in a Learning Community is 25.
    • One instructor should not teach all courses within a Learning Community.
    • It is possible to embed Learning Community students in large courses.
    • Learning Communities may be offered at any KSU campus. Courses within individual Learning Communities should meet on the same campus.
    • Proposals should include General Education courses and/or lower-level major courses that do not have prerequisites.
    • Identify a course that will include only the LC students (<25 students)­­­­ and will serve as the “anchor” course for the Learning Community.
    • If necessary, the Learning Communities Program can help you identify instructors to teach in your Learning Community; however, if you know who you plan to include on your LC instructional team, please discuss this with them when preparing your proposal.
    • If you are proposing a Learning Community for a specific major, please consult with the chair and/or an academic advisor for that major to ensure that the courses included in the Learning Community meet the needs and graduation requirements of the students.
    • Please seek Chair approval before submitting your proposal.
    • If you are interested in teaching in a Learning Community but do not know where to start, feel free to contact the Director of Learning Communities at (470) 578-2471.