Preparing Future Community Leaders through University Learning Communities: A Model Course

Abstract Two definitions of Learning Communities were used to present the context in which this Model course has been developed. Entitled “Community Leadership Development” this course is an “Engaged Learning” course that resulted from the integration of two previous courses listed as General Education Undergraduate courses and taught as Writing Across the Curriculum courses. A Logic Model shows the problems that are addressed, the intervention strategies, the goals, objectives and outcomes of this Integrated Learning Community course. Few of the main features of this model are the setting up of an Instructional Team, the professors’ alternative rotations between classes, and the experiential learning of the philosophy of leadership models and types. The ultimate course outcomes are aligned with the University goals to retain students more specifically Freshmen, and insure their success.