Students and educators alike are encouraged to participate in Academic Communities, a new learning initiative at Carroll Community College.

The vision statement adopted by the Academic Communities Steering Team captures the purposes of the new initiative:

Academic Communities provide an organizational structure that pulls together often-isolated elements of the student experience. The intention is to make connections between formal academic experiences and other opportunities for learning in order to encourage curiosity, academic rigor, and a sense of belonging. The goal is to foster a transformative experience for students, relating academic study to life interests and goals.

Academic Communities offer students an opportunity to connect with peers and educators who have similar academic, personal, and career interests. Each Academic Community will meet as a whole two or three times a semester, with other events and activities scheduled year-round.

Students will be offered learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom, including career mentoring, guest lecturers, interactive teaching, study groups, film discussions, and excursions off campus. All activities are designed to help students set goals and achieve academic success.

Seven Academic Communities currently exist:

• Body by Carroll: Adventures in Health
• Creativity
• Education, Human Development, and Behavior
• Great Ideas from the Human Experience
• Law and Criminal Justice
• Leaders, Investors, and Entrepreneurs
• The Way Things Work: Science, Math, and Technology

The latest news and announcements of upcoming events for each community can be found on the college website www.carrollcc.edu by clicking on "Academic Communities" on the front page.

The Academic Communities Steering Team is chaired by David Booz and Michele Lenhart. Team members include Nanci Barker, Sheri Chisholm, Judy Coen, Kate Demarest, Kris DeWitt, William Dougherty, David Fell, Barbara Gardner, Steve Geppi, Sherry Glass, Ginger Graham-Lewis, Kristin Johnson, Libby Little, Diana Neeriemer, Jody Nusholtz, Nancy Perry, Sarah Sayre, Susan Sies, and Lynne Smith. Bryan Costin and Adam Willard created the Academic Communities web pages.

The Academic Communities Steering Team.

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