Learning Community Programming Ideas

These suggestions are geared specifically toward RAs with LCs. While many of these programs are also beneficial for all communities, these programs can be altered to cater to your floor's needs. Many of these programs can help you unite your floor as a whole, while still embracing your Learning Community.

• Sponsor an academic scavenger hunt. Have students go to the tutoring offices, school offices, and student service offices all over campus. The top three finishers get a prize. This program is great for new students!
• Encourage the formation of study groups for everyone on the floor. Try to help students organize study events.
• Offer an academic incentive program (i.e., for attending study nights, participating in educational programs) such as Study Bucks.
• Post schedules and course syllabi. With residents' permission, post these two items so others know who to study with, and who to go to with academic questions.
• Sponsor workshops on time management, stress management, how to study for math or science, or how to take tests. Invite University staff from the Academic Success Center to lead workshops. Have a workshop that ties in with the focus of the Learning Community.
• Invite faculty to every-day floor events. These events can be dinners, floor meetings study breaks, etc.
• Plan a career seminar by utilizing resources from campus. Invite a person who is currently in a career in the residents' academic fields. Invite him/her to speak about how he/she attained his/her position and his/her likes and dislikes about his/her occupation. This could be someone who is not a professor.
• Invite the Learning Community to put on a program for the whole floor. Give them the opportunity to utilize their resources and show the floor what they do. Make it fun and educational.
• Plan a community service event. Give back to the surrounding area. Work at a soup kitchen. Tutor at local schools. Adopt a Highway and clean your mile. Show your residents the importance of volunteering, while at the same time giving them the chance to learn and make stronger friendships. Utilize the Boiler Volunteer Network to plan these types of programs.
• Create themed bulletin boards for every month. They can be socially based, educationally based, or just filled with important information. One month, make a bulletin board about Learning Community students; interest, (ie Life in Pharmacy, Current Global Events, Exciting Opportunities working with Animals, or Roles of a Nurse). Make the board fun, informational, and even interactive. Have LC students help plan and create the board.
• Invite University staff to give a presentation about finding internships. Compile information about different resources to aid in the search of an internship, as well as how to interview and write a good résumé. Contact Center for Career Opportunities for assistance.