High Impact Practices (HIPs)

Learning communities have been a part of higher education for many decades, and there are many models. They typically involve a cohort of students who share learning experience around a common theme. Common characteristics include: - Small groups of students and faculty - Meaningful interaction and application of learning - Students establish social support networks At Bristol Community College, Learning Communities are two or more linked courses and there are at least two ways to link them.

1. Interdisciplinary LC – This is a combination of two courses from different disciplines, such as ENG 101 College Writing and PSY 101 General Psychology. Faculty link the courses through common readings or assignments. For example, students read a novel in ENG 101 and write a paper in PSY 101 applying psychological theories to the characters.

2. Intradisciplinary LC – This is a combination of two courses from the same discipline, such as a remedial course and the college level counterpart (e.g. ENG 092 and ENG 101).

The level of integration varies. If courses are in person, they can be scheduled back to back. Instructors can also choose to team teach some or all of the lessons. Faculty are also permitted to create a shared syllabus. None of this is required, however.