The first year of college is often a fun and rewarding experience that you will remember for a lifetime, but it is also full of challenges that will test you both in and out of the classroom.

Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) are designed to provide opportunities for you as a new student to make important social and academic connections to the campus-connections that will significantly improve your chances of success in college and your adjustment to college life.

If you choose to participate in a Freshman Learning Community, you will enroll in a cluster of two or three freshman level courses with a group of other freshmen. Because you will be one of a group of approximately 25 first-semester students enrolled in these courses together, you will quickly get to know other students as you begin your college studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU).

The Basic Concept

A Freshman Learning Community is a group of approximately 25 students who sign up to take two or three classes together during their first (fall) semester. This block of classes may be related to a particular major—such as Nursing or Education—or they may comprise a cluster of required core curriculum classes—such as history and English, or chemistry and psychology.

Scheduling Logistics

Freshman Learning Community classes are reserved for the students who join each particular community, so students are guaranteed a seat in those classes as soon as they sign up. Because these learning communities generally comprise only 5-8 credit hours, most students enroll in two or three additional core curriculum classes, helping themselves both to create a full-time schedule and also to meet additional professors and students from across campus

Benefits of Joining

Certainly, all incoming freshmen who want to explore a major or a theme should sign up for the Freshman Learning Community of their choice. In addition, Freshman Learning Communities are a superb idea for any incoming freshman who wants to ease the transition from high school to college and who wants to reap several key benefits:

• A reserved place in each FLC course;
• Opportunities to make friends and form study groups;
• Simplified procedures for academic advisement and registration;
• A chance for a better GPA and greater likelihood of graduating;
• An enriched academic experience;
• A chance to experience what AASU has to offer in the classroom and beyond.

Learning Communities sound great, so what should I do now?

First, carefully review the descriptions of the eight Fall 2009 Freshman Learning Communities and decide which learning community you would like to join.

Next, reserve your place in the FLC of your choice: enrollment in each learning community is limited and is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. As soon as you're ready to reserve your spot, you can do so by contacting the Office of Academic Orientation and Advisement via one of the methods indicated below. The best method of contact is via e-mail or telephone.

Third, be sure to attend AASU's student orientation program, called Navigate Armstrong, this spring or summer. Your attendance at an orientation session is required as final confirmation of your participation in a Freshman Learning Community. Orientation sessions are offered on the following dates:

Reserve Your Spot or Request More Information

For more information, or to reserve your spot in a Freshman Learning Community, contact us: