Promise of Ohio University:
The Learning Community Program
Since 2006, the number of students participating in Ohio University learning communities has more than doubled, and the program's success has had a direct effect on student achievement.
For students such as sophomore Abby Newton, the communities provide a way to engage outside the classroom and make friends through academic-centered activities. Participating first-year students take a common set of courses together and share in experiences that introduce them to the university's academic and co-curricular resources.
This involvement directly correlates to participants' higher GPAs, enhanced engagement and increased retention.
 "It helped me adjust to college," says Newton, a journalism major. "I was with a group that was all going through the same classes and experiences as I was. Although there are 20,000 people at OU, my (learning community) made it feel smaller, because I knew my classmates."
Communities focus around colleges and majors; by themes such as foreign languages, sports or global sustainability; by residence; or another classification, such as commuter students.
"As a part of my learning community, I have built strong relationships with my academic peers and made a smooth and easy transition into the college lifestyle," says Ryan Pfefferle, a sophomore biological sciences major.
Learning communities for first-year students began as a pilot program in 1999 with an 1804 Fund grant from The Ohio University Foundation. In 2003, a proposal was approved for University College to fund the program, including a full-time administrator.
In fall 2007, University College required all undecided students to enroll in a learning community, which resulted in significantly positive assessment results. This fall, there were 148 communities with approximately 2,400 participants.
"Learning communities are a collaborative effort of the university that have allowed thousands of students to successfully navigate their first term at Ohio University over the past 10 years," says Wendy Merb-Brown, director of the Learning Community Program.
Learning communities receive generous support from alumni, says Howard R. Lipman, vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of The Ohio University Foundation. For fiscal year 2009, 939 donors have made pledges and gifts totaling $48,364, and total giving since fiscal year 2007 is $242,930.
"The learning communities would not be possible without the support and gifts of alumni, parents and friends of Ohio University," says Lipman. "Ohio University is extremely grateful for the support from so many."
To learn more about supporting the learning communities, visit www.ohio.edu/ learningcommunities.
Posted 12-15-2009
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