Learning Communities

Freshmen accepted into Belk College of Business designated as pre-business, pre-accounting, and pre-economics; Residential 

The Business Learning Community (BLC) is a cohort of first-year business students who live and attend classes together. The program is designed to ease the transition to university life, enhance student academic performance, provide opportunities for direct exposure to business and networking, and improve the overall student experience.

Designed for diverse, highly-motivated students with leadership potential and an interest in professional development, UNC Charlotte's BLC provides first-year business students with a built-in community of learners and a current and future professional network.

The application process includes completion of the Learning Community Application followed by a phone or video discussion with the program coordinator. 

For more information on the BLC visit the Belk College of Business here: http://belkcollege.charlotte.edu/blc.

Business Learning Community

Mr. Roston Shore
Belk College Professional Development Team
stcenterpd@uncc.edu

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Freshmen accepted into College of Computing & Informatics majoring in Computer Science; Residential

The CCI-LC is designed to jump-start the participants’ academic careers through studying and learning experiences more commonly associated with a small college: a close-knit environment and community of mutual support. Recognizing that all significant development projects today are team efforts, the CCI-LC provides opportunities both for individual work and group work through team assignments, study groups, and community-wide activities that will provide life-long learning skills and ease the transition from high school to college, and eventually to the workplace.

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Transfer Students with a pre-major or major in Criminal Justice; No Residential Component

The aim of the year-long Criminal Justice Learning Community is to facilitate the transfer student’s academic and social transition to UNC Charlotte. Specific aspects of our program and benefits to those transfer students who participate are an opportunity to complete: six credits of the required 12 credit Criminal Justice electives; two University required goals (writing and oral communication); and two required Criminal Justice courses:Criminal Justice Theory (CJUS 2040) and Criminal Justice Research Methods (CJUS 2070). There is a special emphasis on activities associated with the courses; an opportunity to take these courses with other transfers in the learning community; and a foundation for employment in criminal justice and/or a related field through volunteer work either on or off campus in related organizations.

Criminal Justice Learning Community
Dr. Jesse R. McKee
jmckee19@uncc.edu

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Freshmen who intend to become teachers and are designated as Pre-Education; No Residential Component 

The Education Learning Community (ELC) is open to incoming freshmen declared as Pre-Education majors. The program is designed to foster students’ passion for teaching, provide networking opportunities, and ease the transition to university life. Students build a sense of community through intentionally designed activities, as well as taking the required ELC seminar course together both fall and spring semester. Professional development activities are a key part of each semester.

Education Learning Community

Liz Adkisson
704-687-8882
ecsmith@uncc.edu

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Freshmen accepted into The William States Lee College of Engineering; Residential

Students in the Engineering Freshman Learning Community will have a variety of opportunities to network with other students, learn from one another, and teach others by taking classes and working on projects together. In addition, through mentoring and study groups students in the community acquire the skills necessary to improve and enhance learning. The EFLC encourages students to achieve academic excellence with the support of a tight-knit community of persevering students, dedicated staff, and involved faculty.

Engineering Learning Community
Dr. Belinda Parker          Ms. Yolanda McIlwaine
coe-flc@uncc.edu           coe-flc@uncc.edu
704-687-5026                  704-687-1995

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First-year students with an interest in literature, creative writing, or language and digital technology.  All majors are welcome but recommended for English majors, minors, or those considering English. No residential component.

The English Learning Community is for students with an interest in literature, creative writing, or language and digital technology. Participation can increase student success by providing an environment that helps develop friendships and support while adjusting to university life. The program highlights the interrelated themes of literacy, the arts, and community by participating in a full range of Charlotte’s rich cultural resources, such as attending poetry readings, plays, and concerts. Features of the program include peer mentors, individualized advising (including early career exploration), instructional support, and connections with the English faculty and local authors. While based in the Department of English, the ELC welcomes all majors.

English Learning Community

Tiffany Morin

tamorin@uncc.edu

704-687-0244

Students with majors in University College who are interested in exploring their major options; No Residential Component

A one-year program for undeclared freshmen who are exploring majors. The Explore LC will focus on self, academic, and career exploration, with a particular focus on finding a good major/career fit for each student's individual interests and strengths.

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This Gender Excellence Learning Community welcomes first-year students with interests in social justice issues related to gender, race, sexuality, equity, identity, and activism. All majors and disciplines, including undeclared, may apply. No Residential Component.

The Gender Excellence Learning Community (Gen-X) is designed to enhance first-year students’ knowledge of social justice issues that relate to women, girls, and other marginalized identities and to help them to network and make early connections with a variety of women- and gender-related campus, cultural, and community programs. During the first year at UNC Charlotte, students in the Gen-X learning community are able to attain up to forty hours of activism experience, learn and apply ethical leadership skills, conduct research for two major projects, and hone skills in critical thinking and intersectional analysis. Gen-X experiences draw on the ideals of service learning, which combine volunteer efforts with academic study. Students will also make progress towards their Gen Ed requirements and have individualized advising during the program. Finally, through shared enrollments in classes, Gen-X students focus on team-building and social awareness, work on a number of course-related projects with colleagues, form common study groups, and develop core friendships and associations with other Learning Community students who share their interests. Many Gen-X graduates go on to declare the Women's & Gender Studies minor, as they have three of six courses complete by the end of their first academic year, though this is not required.

Gender Excellence Learning Community (Gen-X)
Jen Byrd
jbbyrd@uncc.edu

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Freshmen; No Residential Component

The Global Village Learning Community is a one-year non-residential program designed to introduce freshmen to the phenomenon of globalization by means of social scientific study of societies and cultures. It is open to all students but will be of particular interest to students interested in any one of the social science majors such as Anthropology,  Sociology, and Political Science, any student interested in pursuing a career that has a global dimension, or any student interested in other peoples and cultures. Students will enroll together in a series of courses that fulfill General Education requirements and will also participate in service learning. At the end of the academic year, students are given the opportunity to travel to an international site for additional academic coursework and service learning experiences.

Global Village Learning Community
Dr. Vaughn Schmutz          
vschmutz@uncc.edu                            

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Freshmen accepted into College of Health and Human Services; Residential

The Health Connection Learning Community is a residential program for students pursuing a major in nursing, social work, exercise science, or public health.  Students will live together in the same residence hall, take classes, participate in community service, and learn together to enhance their understanding of different healthcare and social service disciplines to increase their communication, leadership and teamwork skills so they can function successfully in these settings. In addition, individual academic advisement, registration for courses, and faculty support are provided. Our overall goal is to provide collaborative teaching services to better prepare each student for possible entry into the four competitive college majors.

Health Connection Learning Community
Ms. Tracy Bonoffski               
tbonoffs@uncc.edu
704‑687‑0858

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Freshmen with an interest in history or careers in related professional fields.  No residential component.

The History FIrst-Year Learning Community (HLC) program is for all majors and undecided freshmen/first-time-in-college students with an interest in history or its pre-professional foci in business, law/justice, public history, education, military, diplomacy, and advocacy. This one-year program offers small-scale learning in a large university and is designed to accelerate and enhance academic performance with hands-on experiences in history. 

The program’s curriculum is centered around two dedicated major courses, with opportunities for field work, career orientation, excursions, and job shadowing. Students may opt to live anywhere on campus or to commute. The HLC is required for entering history freshmen/first-time-in-college students; other majors or undecided students are welcome as well. 

The HLC fulfills the University-mandated Prospect for Success requirement.
 
History Learning Community
Dr. Oscar Lansen
oelansen@uncc.edu

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Transfer students with a history major; No Residential Component

The goal of this community is to create links between students and professors and among students themselves to ensure that transfer History majors have access to the university's multiple resources. We want to use the HTLC as a space to share experiences, information, and opportunities so that you can make the most of your university life.

As a member of the HTLC you will have the opportunity to 

• Enroll in undergraduate research assistantships to work closely with a professor.

• Have close follow-up in your educational/academic progress. 

• Attend lectures and events given by university professors (such as the Personally Speaking Lectures).

• Join in special events just for our learning community like the end of semester honors and party.

• Participate in the spring's annual Graduate Conference in History (GHA).

Freshmen with interest in leadership development and campus involvement; Residential

The LJLC is a program for all first-year students who have an interest in developing or building leadership skills and abilities. This experience is designed to build students into ethical leaders in today’s multicultural and rapidly changing world through the development of practical skills. Our program is based on active learning in and out of the classroom with structured activities, experiences, and community service that provide leadership opportunities, help first-year students adjust to college life, and set them up for success at UNC Charlotte. The program requirements may conflict with some academic curricula.

Leadership Journey Learning Community
Michael Maksymowski
mmaksymo@uncc.edu
704‑687‑5668

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Freshmen majoring in, or intending to major in, a Math or Science major within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; No Residential Component

The Math and Science First LC is designed around the degree requirements for majors in the Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Earth Sciences (Geology, Meteorology, and Environmental Science) fields of study. First-generation students are strongly encouraged to apply. A first-generation student is someone who is among the first generation of their family to attend a college or university.

Participation in the LC can increase your success in college by helping you access resources and develop skills to help you succeed in your major. The LC will also provide a community of peers and mentors to support you during your first year at the University and beyond. The program is designed specifically to address challenges students in STEM fields often encounter. Features of the program include individualized advising, support for introductory science and math courses, career and goal coaching, community of peers with similar interests, and early contact with faculty in these disciplines.

Math & Science First Learning Community
Dr. Sarah M. Wells
UNC Charlotte Department of Chemistry
Sarah.Wells@uncc.edu
704‑687‑1857

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Transfer students with declared majors in Sociology or intended majors in Sociology; No Residential Component

The Sociology Bridge Learning Community (SBLC) is a one-year program for transfer students interested in majoring in Sociology at UNC Charlotte. The purposes of this community are three-fold: (1) to integrate new transfer students into the University and the Department; (2) to provide professional socialization to these students; and (3) to enable these students to make timely progress toward degree completion. Students in SBLC will be guaranteed seats in four classes that fulfill upper-level requirements for Sociology majors, which will advance their progress towards graduation.

Sociology Bridge Learning Community

Dr. Anne-Kathrin Kronberg
Fretwell 485B
Dept. of Sociology
Phone: 704-687-7806
Email: akronber@uncc.edu

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Freshmen who participated in the UTOP summer bridge program; No Residential Component

The UTOP Learning Community (LC) is an extension of the 6-week summer experience. The UTOP Learning Community (LC) provides students with resources and activities that aid their transition into college such as peer mentoring, socials, tutoring, study groups, workshops on academic and personal growth, leadership opportunities and community service. The LC works with the colleges within the University to ensure students take the requisite classes for his/her major during the first year.  Students engage in rigorous coursework, academic support services and co-curricular activities.

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