tudents 01 the learning Community gather together in reparation for their class Oct. 20. The closs met everoI times a week to further the students' study kills. ·Russell Keck reshmen Farran Martin and Holley Brown participate in a ball xercise Oct. 20 to help those in the Learning Com– unity remember each other's names. The lesson hat day was a focus technique about balancing riorities and dealing with distractions. ·RUlsell Keck ~_~s~o~g ~ omores A Learning Community TRIO supports students with opportunities Although the program was noc largely pub– licized across campus, freshmen were able (0 make (he transition from high school to college a little easier through the Learning Community program. The program was sponsored byTRIO Student Sup– port Services, and was, according to irs mono, based on "working together co promote physical, emotional, spiritual and academic success through fellowship, collegiality and accounrahi[iry." Anissa Harris, TRIO instructor and turo ring coor– dinator, said rhe community was eicher a semester or year-long program that tried to ease the transition from rugh school to college. "Instead of being a remedial program, it is more of an enrichmenr one," Harris said. "There are so many changes when you go from high school ro college, so a lot of scudems are lost in the transition." The students were placed in general education classes with other members of the Learning Community. "The studencs are able to see the same faces in all of thei r classes," Harris said. "We've seen students really benefit from the accountability that is produced." Sophomore Sara Coll ins, who participated in the program, said there were benefits in having accountability in her studies. "It has helped me be accountable in many different aspects because I know that there are nine other people who know I am missing class," Collins said. "They will call me Out on it and make sure that I am going to class and make sure that I am studying." Sophomore Michael Pruitt said he appreciated the accountability that came from rhe Learning Community program. "We all saw each othcr every day, all day," Pruitt said. "We became so close and were able to become accountability partners in our s{Udies and, really, in all aspens of life." Alongwith theirclass schedules ooindding,students were also required to take a class taught by Harris that focused on staying on course and on strmcgies for success. "It is a class that tries to teach survival skills in areas such as rcst taking, finances and taking notes," Harris said. Harris said the class also included our~of-c1ass study sessions. "We have student instructOrs who attend classes with the [Learning] Community," Harris said. "The student insrruaor acts as an interpreter for the lecture and a helper to prepare the students for quizzes and tests." H arris said the program was available to students who met one of the following requ irements: were first ge neration college students. were income qualified or had a documented disabili ty. "The students who participate have Au scores rang~ ing from 19-25," H arris said. "So this program is really foclLsed on the average studenr who just needs a little extra push to stay on track." Sophomore DavidAdams said being involved in the d ose group helped him succeed in his fi rst year of college. «I knew these people and knew that they struggled too," Adams said. "J know that the Learning Community and private tutoring helped me so much laSt semester that if I ever really struggle like that again, I will not be alone and can always find help," he said. Harris said the program helped about 400 students each year, and student feedback had been positive. "H ere in college you don't have your parents there behind you trying to get you to get stuff done," Pruitt said. "The Communi ty provides a really nice and helpful way to come from high school to college." .Emily Burrows sophomores .. i _
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