COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Texas A&M University

Learning Communities

Incoming TLAC freshmen join learning communities

The undergraduate advising office of TLAC is offering a special opportunity for its incoming freshmenstudents to join what is called a "Lohman Learning Community". The Learning Communities project, which is in its third year with TLAC, is a relatively new but increasingly popular concept among departments within the university, as well as among universities throughout the nation. Encouraged by Dr. Robert M. Gates’ initiative to better the freshman year experience, the Learning Communities program provides a "connection with faculty and a positive academic experience" for TLAC’s newest students says TLAC Learning Communities director, Dr. Cynthia K. Boettcher.

All incoming freshmen receive an invitation by letter to join a Learning Community as they are accepted to Texas A&M and enroll in the TLAC department. While the program is completely voluntary and selfselect, approximately 1/3 of the Learning Community participants are minority students and many are also Regents Scholars. Students who opt to participate in Learning Communities are grouped together for four of the same TLAC-required courses their freshmen year, two in the fall (i.e. TEFB 273 and GEOL 101 or BIOL 113/123) and two in the spring (i.e. MATH 141 and INST 322), in addition to other courses in which they enroll individually. During their sophomore year, participants will continue to be grouped together with other participants of the same specialization (i.e. early childhood, middle school, etc.). Besides feeling a sense of community with many of their classmates with whom they can study and create friendships, these students are also offered supplemental instruction in their math and science courses as well as in writing and technology (i.e. I-folios and WebCT). Learning Community members participate in a number of social activities (such as MSC OPAS and dinners) and develop a greater sense and appreciation of diversity through participation in Multicultural Roundtable Discussions in the fall and the International Students Dinner in the spring.

As the Learning Communities concept becomes better known and valued among the university and students, more and more students are enrolling each year. TLAC currently has 51 students participating in the program. In addition to a record of high university involvement, comparison studies between the cumulative grade point ratios of learning community participants and non-participants shows an approximate .5 higher GPR among participants each semester:

First Lohman Learning Community (Freshmen 2002-2003)

Spring 2003

Average Participant GPR: 3.089 (0 withdrew, 0 dismissed)

Average Non-participant GPR: 2.524 (2 withdrew, 1 dismissed)

Spring 2004

Average Participant GPR: 3.303 (0 withdrew, 1 dismissed)

Average Non-participant GPR: 2.819 (3 withdrew, 5 dismissed)

Second Lohman Learning Community (Freshmen 2003-2004)

Fall 2003

Average Participant GPR: 2.968 (0 withdrew, 0 dismissed)

Average Non-participant GPR: 2.522 (0 withdrew, 0 dismissed)

Spring 2004

Average Participant GPR: 2.923 (0 withdrew, 0 dismissed)

Average Non-participant GPR: 2.537 (1 withdrew, 0 dismissed)

For more information about TLAC’s Lohman Learning Communities, please contact Dr. Cynthia K. Boettcher at cboettcher@coe.tamu.edu.

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