Learning Communities
Congratulations on your admission to UNLV and welcome to the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs!
By now you have probably received several welcome letters in recognition of how much we look forward to you becoming a Rebel this fall. We would like to take this opportunity and invite you to participate in a very special and innovative program during your first year within the Greenspun College.
We in the GCUA are committed to helping you achieve your educational and career objectives and are constantly working on ways to facilitate reaching those goals while simultaneously creating a unique, enjoyable and well-rounded college experience for you. Across the country many colleges and universities are developing “learning communities,” and UNLV is no different. This fall we will be launching five such learning communities within the GCUA, each designed around a specific topic while providing several benefits to students that they do not normally receive. Based upon your interests and past accomplishments we want you to be a part of the inaugural learning community program within the college.
First, you will complete courses that fulfill a significant amount of the core requirements needed for graduation in your first year. Many students often wait until their junior and senior years to take core requirements, ultimately forgoing much needed college preparation. Core requirements provide students with foundational knowledge that prepares them for upper division courses within their major, however when they are taken at the same time, students lack those important initial introductions to material. In this program you fulfill many core requirements early allowing you to concentrate on your major in your junior and senior years with the foundational knowledge from the core already in your back pocket.
Fall 2009 – Spring 2010
THE GREENSPUN COLLEGE OF URBAN AFFAIRS
~ is Hosting ~
5 LEARNING COMMUNITIES for first-year students...
Law and Order: Living in A Just World
COM 100-003 M/W 11:30-12:45 - Castrejon
COM 101-033 M/W 1:00-2:15
CRJ 104-002 T/R 10:00-11:15
Recommended for CRJ & PUA majors
Rock of Love: Interpersonal Communication
COM 100-002 T/R 11:30-12:45 - Igeleke
COM 101-034 M/W 1:00-2:15
MFT 225-001 T/R 10:00-11:15
Recommended for COM majors & Family Studies minors
Going Green: Sustaining Las Vegas
COM 100-004 T/R 10:00-11:15 - Sikula
COM 101-031 M/W 8:30-9:45
ENV 101-006 T/R 11:30-12:45
Recommended for ENV & PUA majors
Live From UNLV: Media and the Message
COM 100-005 M/W 1:00-2:15 - Stroum
COM 101-038 T/R 10:00-11:15
JOUR 100-001 M 8:30-9:45
Recommended for JMS majors
The Perfect Fit: Wellness in the Desert
COM 100-001 M/W 10:00-11:15 - Souza
COM 101-036 T/R 8:30-9:45
PUA 241-001 T/R 11:30-12:45
Recommended for SWK majors
DISCOVER THE BENEFITS of being a STUDENT in a LEARNING COMMUNITY!!!
- Better connections with peers & Greater course satisfaction
- Increased interaction between faculty & students
- Increased understanding of the connections between disciplines
- Stronger connections between courses and learning
- Improved students engagement & involvement on-campus
- Increased satisfaction with the college experience
Studies of similar programs across the country indicate that as a result of the common course theme, students receive higher marks and retain more information than those who take classes in a variety of subjects with no common theme. Essentially, by participating in a learning community, you increase your chances of earning a higher GPA in your first year, setting the stage for success in subsequent years.
A third practical benefit to joining the learning community program within the GCUA involves registration and scheduling. The courses within these learning communities are pre-blocked just for you, so you do not need to worry about rearranging your schedule based on classes that you want to get into but cannot because they are full. When you sign up for a learning community all but two of your classes are already selected for you. All you need to do is pick an English and math class that fit into your already prepared schedule.
In addition to the academic advantages a learning community provides you, there are social benefits as well. Each learning community contains 27 students, all of whom are freshmen and all of whom take those same three classes together. This provides a quick way to make friends and form study groups. Some of the best friends you will make will be some of the first people you meet at UNLV, and the learning community provides a great networking opportunity for you to form those friendships.
So, as you can see, the new GCUA Learning Community program is a perfect way to begin your college experience on the right foot. Students who participate get both an academic and social leg up on their classmates, and if the experiences at other colleges and universities are any indication, participation early leads to a better overall performance throughout your college career.
As a specially selected incoming freshman you have the opportunity to help yourself make the most out of UNLV. If you are interested in joining one of them—and we sincerely hope you are—please contact the GCUA Advising Center at (702)-895-1009 or Dr. Joe Valenzano at (702)-895-5135 for more information.
Congratulations again on your admission, and we will see you in the fall!
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