This typology was developed in 2020 by the National Learning Communities Collaborative – a cohort of practitioners, researchers, and organizations.

Linked Courses 

Cohorts of students enrolled in two or more courses led by different faculty members who identify common student learning outcomes and intentionally integrate curriculum as demonstrated by students on scaffolded integrative assignments and assessments. These are not residentially based communities.

Coordinated studies program

Coordinated studies programs are thematically linked courses fulfilling a students’ full semester course schedule. Courses are team-taught by two or more faculty.  Some institutions register students for a single course of 8-16 credits while others register students for multiple courses. 

Living-Learning Community

Student cohorts that live together in residence and either a) engage in integrated academic content through an integrative curriculum offered through coursework supported by co-curricular programming or b) participate in residential programming or engage in a residential curriculum co-designed by residence life/housing staff and a faculty partner(s) that complements an academic curriculum. Either approach is represented through clear collaboration between residence life /SL and AA. 

Residential College

A residential college (RC) is a collegiate residential environment in which live-in faculty play an integral role in the programmatic experience and leadership of the community. Features may include academic department association, AA and SA partnerships, linked courses, curricular and co-curricular programming infused into RC, and traditional programs/social events.

Other 

No typology can capture the structure of every learning community program. If the design of your learning community program is not described in options “a-d”or is a combination of the typologies above, please select this option and you will be prompted to describe your program in further detail.