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Learning Communities Committee

The LCC is a standing committee that serves at the request of the Vice President for Instruction. Composed of faculty and staff, this committee encourages and fosters integrative curriculum development and faculty participation in planning and maintenance of academic standards, primarily through review and support of Learning Community courses, linked courses, and integrative assignments and experiences.

The strongest learning community programs are designed as systematic intervention strategies aimed at improving the persistence and academic achievement of students in particular courses, programs, or pathways.   ~AAC&U

Overview

At its core, integration allows students and faculty to explore issues and concerns of a major theme from a variety of academic disciplines. As students engage in content through the lens of their life experiences, they also make connections among the learning outcomes across disciplines.

Our learning community models use integrative learning practices to encourage creative and critical thinking; they range from team taught to independently taught courses, assignments, and experiences.

Committee Goals

  • Develop and implement a plan that sustains and documents learning communities.
  • Promote the values and pedagogies of diverse learning communities.
  • Strengthen and support the creation of successful learning communities and their creative processes.
  • Assess the integrative learning curriculum model as a tool for student success.

Proposals

The LCC welcomes proposals to establish, facilitate, or revise learning community courses or integrative learning projects. View detailed Proposal Instructions & Forms (requires MySeattleColleges login). LCC retains digital copies of the team’s proposal, committee response, and team reflection in its document archives.

Proposals due by 3:00pm on Friday: 
Nov 3, 2023;  Feb 9, 2024;  May 10, 2024

Proposals Review Meeting with Teaching Team and Dean(s) from 2:30-3:30pm on Wednesday: 
Nov 15, 2023;  Feb 21, 2024;  May 22, 2024

Integrated Studies Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the strengths and limitations of different fields of study or different ways of knowing.

2. Explain and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study, among different fields of study, and or different lived experiences.

3. Integrate concepts and analytical frameworks from multiple perspectives to develop one or more of the following:
- more comprehensive descriptions,
- multi-causal explanations,
- new interpretations, or
- deeper explorations of issues.

4. Analyze and reflect on insights gained from integrating multiple perspectives in a purposeful project or experience.

Resources