Abstract:

A 'learning community' is a deliberate restructuring of the curriculum to build a community of learners among students and faculty. Learning communities (LC) generally structure the curriculum around an interdisciplinary theme so that students are actively engaged in a sustained academic relationship with other students and faculty (Smith/ Hunter, 1988). LC promote academic success by emphasizing student-student and faculty-student interaction and interdisciplinary linkage of courses. LCs have an organic faculty development entity due to team teaching courses. This model of curriculum development and its intentional pedagogy fosters critical and creative thinking, active and inquire based learning, the merging of theory and practice and connections with local, national and global communities. Praxis is important to adult learning. Therefore at the end of each academic year students present their research and theoretical study in a Community Fair for diverse communities in the neighborhood of the campus. The fair is designed to assist in the wellness and sustainability of the community. The academic program focuses on rigorous study for graduate school and careers in education, the sciences, math, social sciences, media arts, law and public policy. A recent example of this innovative curricular design and pedagogy is a project that integrates art, science, social science and math stimulating a partnership between students and faculty, local public health professionals and activists, the local art museum and community members using ethnographic interviews. The result will be a mobile installation art piece in a public space that embellishes and encourages the interactivity among these entities. This methodology, scholarship and community practice is enhanced by Tacoma campus’ values: reciprocity, inclusivity, civility and hospitality. The motto is “enter to learn depart to serve”. This pedagogical method has proven successful for ethnically diverse first generation adult learners. With eight faculty (science, math, social science, art/media, law public policy and humanities) and 210 students the curriculum has astounding success. Students have achieved: 84% retention rate, 81% successful acceptance into graduate and professional school admission; a graduation rate of 84% with professional advancement in such fields as: Community and Social Service, Education, Business Management, Health Care Practitioner, Media, Business Operations, Legal Occupation.