Introduction

CFANS Student Learning Communities is an initiative that clusters two or more courses and enroll a common group of students with similar academic interests.  One of these linked classes is an orientation to the major.  In COAFES this was called a First Year Experience Seminar; In CNR this was call an Orientation class.  Other cluster courses commonly include required courses in rhetoric, math, and science.  Research on student learning communities tells us that students who participate tend to be more satisfied with their undergraduate experience and are more likely to finish their degree than those who do not.  It was for these reasons that the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences initiated this program in 2003 under the leadership of Dr. Steven Simmons, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics.  Gary Cooper, Applied Economics, has led the initiative for the past two years.

Goals:

• During their first semester CFANS students will:
• Create positive academic and social relationships with faculty and other new students (in other words, a community!).
• Become aware of the many resources available on our campus and at the University. 
• Gain confidence in their ability to succeed as a student.
• Understand their major and their place within that major.

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Outcomes:*

Retention:   For fall of 2004 to fall 2005 the Freshman to Sophomore University retention rate for SLC students was 95% compared to 88% for students not in SLCs.
 
Participation:  In fall of 2005 68% COAFES students were part of the SLCs compared to 45% in fall of 2004.

First Year Experience Seminar student survey results:

74% of the participating freshmen felt that the seminar fostered a sense of community.

80% felt that it helped them set their future course schedule.

78% felt that it helped them determine whether their major was the right choice for them.

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Plans for 2006-2007:

• Almost every major in CFANS will offer an orientation class with a community building event    (overnight retreat or daytrip).
• Two majors (Animal Science and ESPM) are piloting orientation classes for transfer students.
• Five of the orientation classes will be offering peer-led facilitated study support for the clustered math and science courses in partnership with the SMART Learning Commons.
•   We are launching a Peer Advisor program.  This will be a hybrid of COAFES and CNR's current programs.
• Jessica Markkula, CFANS Student Services, will assume leadership for the SLC initiative.
• Increased participation for CFANS freshmen!
  If you would like more information or would like to be involved in this initiative please contact Jessica Markkula at krueg051@umn.edu.

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*  The evaluation this past year was only for Student Learning Communities in the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science.  We began the process of merging our programs and our plans for 2006- 2007 were created jointly: in 2006-2007 the merger will be complete.