Learning Communities: An Approach to Fostering a Student’s Sense of Community at the University.

At Purdue University, Learning Communities (LCs) are academic programs that allow first-year students from the same major or with similar academic interest to take three courses together and reside with their classmates on the same residence hall floors.  There are many benefits associated with being an LC participant including the interaction between student and faculty, instructors ensuring that the content associated with the three linked courses is connected, and out-of-class activities that compliment the student’s in-class learning.  Students who participate in learning communities come from a diverse ethnic and racial background. Learning Communities not only attract a diverse group of students to Purdue, they also increase their chances of staying at the University.  Research shows and increase in retention associated with students in LC’s compared to non-participants.  LC students do better in their coursework, are better satisfied with their overall Purdue experience, and are more engaged with the University community.