Why have learning communities at LMC?
In a variety of institutional settings (community colleges and universities, primarily) and in a number of forms, learning communities have been shown to increase student retention and academic achievement, increase student involvement and motivation, improve students’ time to degree completion, and enhance student learning experiences. With an emphasis on interpersonal dialogue, collaboration, and learning within the context of diversity, these programs address the problem of isolation that many students experience. Faculty/staff members involved in learning communities report that working together in this way facilitates cross-discipline collaboration such that they may expand faculty repertoire of teaching approaches and enjoyment in working with colleagues in other disciplines. Learning communities can be sites for innovation in curriculum and strengthen teaching and learning which can improve the institution as a whole. The emphasis is on “integrated learning” rather than the view
