After an increase of freshmen participation in learning communities to about 50 percent this year because of marketing and new regulations, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis hopes to continue the expansion to 80 percent in the next five years.
McDavis said at the Aug. 3 Board of Trustees retreat that he wants to see learning communities grow by 6 percent every year for the next five years.
This year, about 2,000 students are participating in 115 learning communities ' the greatest number since the program's creation in 1999.
One of the reasons for this year's increase is a new requirement for University College freshmen to participate in a learning community, said Wendy Merb-Brown, director of learning community programs.
Megan Kraus, a University College freshman, said she didn't like the idea of being forced into a learning community at first but has changed her mind after going to classes.
I think it will really help me choose a major
she said.
Merb-Brown said the requirement stems from a desire to keep undecided students from floundering by helping them to fit in and set goals.
Incoming freshmen were also sent letters and brochures inviting them to apply for learning communities online instead of with the paper application used in previous years, Merb-Brown said.
I'm hoping that helped them make their decisions about choosing Ohio University she said.
Learning communities could accommodate every freshman who applies, but some choose not to participate if they don't get their first choice.
University officials cited low retention rates as one of the reasons for last year's $11 million budget deficit. Since 2000, OU's overall freshmen retention rate has dropped 5.1 percent from 84.9 percent to 79.8 percent in 2005.
According to the learning communities' Web site, the program has several objectives: to boost student retention from freshman to sophomore year, improve the academic success of first year students and increase student satisfaction.
Students in learning communities in Fall 2005 had a retention rate of 82 percent and a grade point average of 2.93, compared to the 79 percent retention rate and 2.84 grade point average of nonparticipating students, according to information from Merb-Brown. Results from the previous three years show similar results.
I think the main goal (of administrators) is student success but a result of success is retention Merb-Brown said.
Learning communities are groups of students who take a common set of courses together or share a common experience around their academics. The students usually take two general education classes and a freshman seminar together during Fall Quarter. Many of the communities at OU are residential, which means that the students live in a common hallway, dorm or area of campus. A peer mentor plans activities outside of class for the participants and helps out with the freshman seminar.
Each college has its own set of learning communities. Many are major-specific, while others allow undecided students to explore different major and career options. There are also seven general learning communities that deal with topics such as sports, pop culture and gender.
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