Winter 2017 EditionAlumni & Friends Magazine
Facilitating acclimation
One-hundred-eighty-seven Ohio University students brushed up on key topics in higher education such as inclusiveness and healthiness when training to become 2016-17 leaders of Bobcat learning communities.
By Eli Burris, BSJ ’16 | December 20, 2016
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These cross-disciplinary enclaves— watch a video overview —encourage freshmen and transfer students to take a set of courses together or share a common academic experience to develop scholarly and social ties from the get-go at OHIO. This fall, more than 4,000 enrollees signed up for 240-plus learning communities. That meant rookie facilitators had much to dive into.
At a daylong Saturday assemblage in April, participants attended interactive sessions entitled “Awareness for an Inclusive Team,” “Let’s Talk First Year,” “Inclusive Strategies for Academic Success,” “The Healthy Campus Majority,” and “Understanding Power-Based Personal Violence.” Faculty, staff, and veteran student learning community leaders teamed on the presentations. Learning communities, a type of welcoming edification, began in 2000; OHIO's University College oversees it.
The meetings grounded novices in some concerns and opportunities in classroom settings, at residence halls, and on Court Street. The seminars also served as networking possibilities, and the more contacts learning community leaders have, the more new students benefit, said Conor Emser, BSC ’16, who served as a learning community leader in 2015-16.
In concert with Undergraduate Admissions, learning community leaders then contacted incoming students in July. This step—a refinement of and a first for the acclimation process—furthers connections and answers questions before arrival on campus.
“It’s important for those who work with new students to be aware of the latest trends in higher education. Staying relevant helps not only the staff, but also our first-term students make connections to Ohio University,” said Wendy Merb-Brown, MED ’91, director of Learning Community Programs. — Eli Burris, BSJ ’16, served as University College's social media manager in 2015-16.
Featured image:OHIO learning community student leaders for 2016-17 and staff counterparts gather for a group photo behind the Living Learning Center in April. Photo by Emily Matthews, BSVC ’18
