“Tell me, and I’ll forget; Teach me, and I’ll remember;
Involve me, and I’ll Learn.” - Benjamin Franklin
Mission Statement
The mission of the NMC Learning in Communities is to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that promotes the highest educational, intellectual and social development of students.
Goals
Learning in Community students will achieve the following goals:
Success: Achieve academic success and accomplish their educational goals.
Responsibility: Effectively transition to college level learning by becoming actively involved and taking responsibility for their own learning.
Relationships: Develop closer social and intellectual relationships with Learning Community faculty and students from different cultures and majors. This is the foundation of the Learning Community.
Critical Thinking: Gain knowledge and develop critical thinking skills by connecting ideas from different disciplines.
Personal Experience: Achieve learning that is deeper and more personally relevant through service learning and experiential activities.
Individuality: Exercise their creativity, develop their identity and discover their voice. Learning becomes a part of who the student is, not just something the student does.
Learning Community Benefits to Students
Take courses linked together in a learning community! Learning community schedules offer you the special opportunity to take linked courses that have been developed around interesting and engaging activities.
You will be more likely to succeed! Students in learning communities have higher pass rates than students who take courses separately!
You’ll make friends easier, get to know your teachers better, and create effective study groups with smaller class sizes!
Learn from a team of instructors in two linked classes.
Connect and share topics, ideas and assignments between classes.
Research shows that students who participate in Learning Communities:
Have higher academic achievement
Have an easier transition to the college
Have more interaction with faculty
Get more involved in campus life.
Relationships
Create a stronger academic support network for yourself.
Be valued as an individual with your own set of personal experiences to bring to the community.
Make new friends by spending more time with students from different cultures and majors.
Develop stronger ties with individuals through small group interactions.
Enjoy closer, more supportive working relationships with NMC instructors and staff.
Personal Skills
Be actively involved in your own learning process.
Improve your critical thinking skills through sharing and connecting topics, ideas and assignments between classes.
Develop leadership, problem-solving and strong communication skills.
Practice team-building skills that are transferable to your daily life.
Build confidence by realizing and achieving your academic goals.
Mentors/Advisers/Counselors
When available Learning Communities will have a peer tutor/mentor who attends the courses with the Learning Community students and conducts workshops, study groups, or individual tutoring sessions outside of the classroom.
Academic Advisors/Counselors will attend Learning Communities classes periodically, and will be available at all times for students who might need further guidance with the College’s programs or personal issues.
Who is eligible to join a Learning Community?
Learning Communities are available to any students who have met the course pre-requisites and are interested in learning in a collaborative environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Learning Communities
Who may join a Learning Community?
Any student may join a Learning Community — provided that he or she has met the prerequisites for classes in the Learning Community.
How many credits will I earn?
You will earn the normal amount of credits for each class. For example, if you enroll in a Learning Community with two 3 credit classes, you will earn 3 credits for each class for a total of 6 credits.
What if I want to drop one of the classes in a Learning Community?
You cannot drop only one of your classes without dropping the other class or classes in the Learning Community. However, one of the benefits for joining a Learning Community is the added support you will have throughout the semester. This support is very important for helping students avoid dropping the Learning Community. In fact, Learning Communities typically have far better student success and retention rates than normal courses.
Will my grade in one Learning Community class affect my grade in the other?
No. Your grades for each class are independent. However, the subjects and assignments for the classes will be linked, and therefore your progress in one class will most likely reflect your progress in the other.
Do Learning Community classes cover General Education requirements?
Yes, some classes cover General Education requirements while others cover prerequisites for General Education requirements. (Before you enroll in a Learning Community, or any class, it is recommended that you visit an advisor/counselor.) Check your program or education plan for requirements.
How is taking a class in a Learning Community different than taking other classes?
Learning Community classes and "other classes" cover the same subjects. But the similarities end there. Learning Community classes are designed so that students learn to make connections between two or more subjects. The classes are planned and coordinated by a team of instructors so that the classes share topics, ideas and assignments throughout the semester. Ideally, studying for one of the classes means studying for the others at the same time.
LinC Leadership Team
Geri Willis – LinC Director
Dr. Sharon Y. Hart, Ph.D — President
Zenaida Javier – Outreach Counselor
Lisa Hacskaylo — Institutional Researcher
Tom Colton — English Instructor
Larry Lee — Business Instructor
Lyte Chapap — Math Instructor
John Jenkins — Education Instructor
Johnny Aldan — Nursing Instructor
Amanda Allen — Distance Learning Coordinator
Student Ambassador Mentors — Giselle Butalid, Jolly Ann Cruz, Angela Deleon Guerrero, Stacy Demapan, Amber Mendiola, and Marvin Rabauliman
The Northern Marianas College is a Land Grant Institution accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association for Schools and Colleges.
