What is a Learning Community?
A learning community is an opportunity to take at least 3-4 classes this fall with other new incoming students in your major. Sometimes, students also live in the same residence hall. The learning community does not cost you anything extra, nor does it require you to take any courses you would not otherwise take. The AGEDS learning community has the following characteristics:
- Contact with students who have similar academic goals
- Common courses
- Educational and social activities
- Peer mentoring
- Career exploration
- Common place of residence (optional)
AGEDS 1100
The hub of our learning community is AGEDS 1100, which all new incoming students take in their first semester. This half-semester course is taught by the department's two staff advisors and introduces students to ISU life and begins their professional and education development. Students will also be connected with a “peer mentor" - a returning AGEDS student who can answer questions and be a general resource for you.
Larch Hall
An optional component of the AGEDS learning community involves residence in Larch Hall. Here, students can live in a cohort with students in similar majors.
Signing Up
All new incoming AGEDS students are auto-enrolled in our course-based learning community. To sign up for the residential component of the learning community, select your learning community preference when filling out your Department of Residence contract in the Housing portal. You can go in and update or change your learning community preference information at any time up until the deadline without losing your “priority date.”