Learning Communities help first-year College of Education students find connection and confidence

Transitioning from high school to a large university can feel overwhelming — but for students in Auburn University’s College of Education, Learning Communities are designed to make that transition smoother, more personal and more connected from day one.

“We have roughly six total Learning Communities,” said Ashley Sullivan, director of academic advising in the College of Education. “Five of them are geared toward our Teacher Education majors. And then we have one geared toward the Rehabilitation Disability Studies major or anybody interested in pre-health majors such as Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy.” 

Each Learning Community places incoming students into a small, intentional cohort — typically around 20 students —who take select courses together during their first year. That structure fosters early friendships and long-term connections.

“You're in a cohort of students within education majors or students interested in education,” Sullivan said. “There are roughly 20 students in a Learning Community. So, you create the bonding relationships that last years and years to come.”

The impact of those relationships often extends well beyond the classroom.

“One of my favorite things is that years later I still see some of the students who are in my Learning Community class hanging out with each other,” said Jen Monkman, an academic advisor in the College of Education who oversees Learning Community classes. “So, they really have built this community, which can be so great in that tough transition from high school to college.”

Built-in support

In addition to community-building, Learning Communities give students early and consistent access to advising and academic guidance. Participants meet weekly with a College of Education academic advisor through a UNIV course taught by college staff.

“You get the opportunity to meet with an academic advisor, someone who works in the College of Education, for at least two hours a week,” Sullivan explained. “And then, of course, you get the pre-registered schedule, which is always very beneficial.” 

Students in a learning community are pre-registered for most of their coursework — often close to a full-time load — removing some of the stress that typically comes with first-semester registration.

“This is a benefit because that means you're not going to have to register for any classes on your own at Camp War Eagle, meaning you're not fighting for spots,” Monkman said.

The UNIV course also introduces students to practical college-success skills.

“In the UNIV class, which is the class that is taught by the staff member, we're going to go through things like time management, how to study, how to look at DegreeWorks,” Monkman said. “We're going to show you how to use Tiger Scheduler. We're going to talk to you about academic resources, the Writing Center. So, you're really getting built-in extra help at least twice a week.”

Peer instructors, upper-level College of Education students, are also built into each Learning Community, giving first-year students another layer of support from someone who has already navigated the experience.

All College of Education Learning Community classes are housed in the college’s new building, giving students immediate access to collaborative learning spaces.

“We do love that all of our College of Education and Learning Community classes are going to be here in our new College of Education Building, which is very exciting,” Sullivan said. “So, we get to utilize that right off the bat.” 

While academic success is a priority, Learning Communities also intentionally create space for fun and engagement.

“We think having fun is one of the most important things we do in the Learning Community,” Monkman said. “So, in my class, our first week, we learned the Auburn cheers.” 

Some Learning Communities even include field trips around campus, reinforcing the importance of community both inside and outside the classroom.

A group to rely on

For students, the value of Learning Communities is immediate and personal. 

“I think it kind of allowed me to see what to expect coming into college,” said Riggs Hester, a freshman in the College of Education. “The Learning Community really helps you prepare yourself so you don't have the fear of the unknown coming into college.”

Another student points to the practical benefits of pre-registration.

“You should take it because they already put your core classes in your schedule,” said freshman Ava Bamberg. “So, you wouldn't have to worry about that.”

Bamberg said she also liked that speakers are brought into the Learning Communities classroom, allowing students to learn about practicums and college programs.

Hester said it also helped him adjust academically.

“Most helpful to me was probably the study strategies,” Hester said, adding that “College is a totally different beast. So, Learning Communities helped me learn study strategies and how to manage my time being on my own.”

Many students describe Learning Communities as a way to make a large university feel smaller.

“I think you should get involved in a Learning Community because it shrinks the college down,” Hester said. “Auburn is a big school and has a lot of students, but Auburn loves to have the small feel. It’s in a small town. And I think Learning Communities really exemplify that, where you’re in a Learning Community, you’re with the same people and they put you in the same classes with everybody. And you kind of get to build a group to rely on — to kind of bounce your struggles off with, and it really gives you a support group throughout college.”

To learn more about Learning Communities, reach out to one of the College of Education’s academic advisors.