Learning Communities
Learning communities comprise a cohort—a group of students who share interests and take classes together. The goal of these communities is to provide student and course connections that make classes and learning more interesting and students more successful. Benefits include:
- learning in a cooperative environment;
- integrated curriculum;
- individual advising/counseling;
- direct contact with quality instructors;
- making new friends;
- small class sizes; and
- a better chance for academic success, which increases the likelihood of staying in college.
Current learning community opportunities include:
AIM for Success
AIM (Academic Improvement) for Success is a learning community designed for students who need to develop their reading and writing skills to achieve proficiency at the college level. AIM is offered in a block schedule and requires students to enroll in reading and writing courses for completion of 10.5 credits during the one-quarter program.
For more information about the AIM program, visit www.mccneb.edu/learningcommunities/aimforsuccess.asp. To register, students should contact Student Services.
Paired learning
Paired learning courses emphasize the relationship between two subject areas by providing students with the opportunity to learn about common topics from different points of reference. Instructors organize curriculum around projects and problem-based instruction.
Passport program
The Passport program is a learning community for students interested in starting their degrees at MCC and then transferring to four-year institutions. The learning communities consist of groups of up to 25 students who complete their first academic year of college together. Students attend full-time during the day, taking three courses each quarter, completing a total of 40.5 quarter (27.0 semester) credits that transfer to most four-year institutions.
An academic advisor is assigned to the Passport group to help ensure student success. For more information, visit www.mccneb.edu/passport.
TE@M
The Teacher Education @ Metro (TE@M) learning community gives students the opportunity to explore teaching as a profession. Through a partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education, MCC offers three transferable professional core requirement education courses. These courses, completed over two or three quarters, start students toward their Bachelor’s in Education and provide an economical way to determine if teaching is the career path for them. There are special qualifications and prerequisites required for entry into the TE@M program. Additional information and the TE@M application can be found at www.mccneb.edu/team.
TRiO
The TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program furthers the MCC mission of educational excellence and equal access by providing first-generation college students with limited income and/or disabilities and homeless students a multiplicity of academic and personal support services: study skills development to achieve academic success, tutoring and supplemental instruction to master course content, and intensive academic and personal advisement to build confidence and promote student success. SSS also provides mentors and a summer bridge program to first-year students, financial literacy education, and scholarship and grant opportunities. These interconnected services increase persistence and encouragement for a seamless transition. The TRiO Student Support Services program also includes the Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker program serving single or pregnant students as they strive to meet their educational goals. Students must apply for program services; space is limited.
Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker Program
The Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker program provides a wide range of workshops and personal assistance to single parents, single pregnant women, displaced homemakers, and Student Support Services/TRiO students. Referral to other College offices and relevant outside community agencies is also available.