Learning Community

The Chemistry Learning Community (CLC) seeks to build a community environment that fosters the educational and emotional growth of chemistry students. Because of the strong emphasis on research in the chemistry community, it is centered around a research oriented theme. The CLC consists of weekly meetings with freshmen and transfer students in the Fall semester and enrollment in Chemistry 110X “Cutting Edge Chemistry: Research and Career Opportunities” and activities in the Spring semester.

Our goals include

 

  • building a supportive community for our freshmen and transfer students by creating and promoting connections between the majors and faculty and staff,
  • exposing freshmen and transfer students to undergraduate research opportunities, and
  • helping students learn coping, problem-solving and communication skills (such as presentation skills).

 

We plan to introduce students to support services at ISU (academic success center, counseling services, and supplemental instruction), to WebCT (to develop team-building and problem solving skills), to go on educational- and service-based field trips, and to invite faculty to discuss their research. In addition, involvement of peer mentors is beneficial to our freshmen, transfer students and our in-stream majors.

The CLC offers three main components

  • peer mentoring
  • common course meeting times, and
  • a housing option

 

New for Fall 2011

For the 2011-2012 Academic year, we have added a housing option for the CLC. This will allow members of the CLC to be on the same floor and therefore, to develop closer ties to others in the chemistry community. There will be other students from other majors as well, though. The housing is available in Helser Hall on the third floor (Sadler House for the women and Livingstone House for the men). To sign up for the housing option, click on the "Learning Community" tab when filling out your Department of Residence contract on AccessPlus.

Useful Information

Peer Mentors:
Kelsey Larson, kelseyl [at] iastate [dot] edu
Ross Kelly, rdkelly [at] iastate [dot] edu

CLC brochure

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Professor Theresa Windus
515-294-6134
twindus [at] iastate [dot] edu

Professor Joe Burnett
515-294-6352
joe_b [at] iastate [dot] edu