First Year Learning Community FAQ
Q: What is a learning community?
A: A learning community seeks to build relationships among studentsand provide them with the skills to build and maintain them; foster communication among students across differences; promote learning outside of the classroom; andcreate opportunities for relationships with peers, faculty, the campus, and the community.
Q: Why am I in an FLC?
A: The FLC program was created for students who have demonstrated the potential, motivation, and commitment to succeed at UW-Platteville, despite having faced obstacles in high school that affected their academic performance.
Q: What kinds of courses will I be taking as part of my FLC?
A: All FLC courses fulfill university general education requirements and will count toward graduation. As part of ranking your choices for your FLC, you’ll see the options for courses you can enroll in as part of the FLC.
Q: What if I want to drop an FLC course?
A: Dropping an FLC course will be assessed on a case by case basis. To drop the course, you must receive approval from your professor, your academic coach, and the FLC program coordinator.
Q: What about the remaining credits I’ll need to take in order to be a full-time student?
A: You will work with academic advisors to fill the rest of your schedule, which means you still get to choose courses outside of your FLC that interest you and align with your major.
Q: What type of support will I receive as an FLC student?
A: The FLC program provides you with a PAL Leader, an academic coach, professors who are dedicated to the program, and the FLC program coordinator. In addition, these resources may refer you to other campus resources that may be helpful, such as Tutoring Services, the Academic Career and Advising Center, and Services for Students with Disabilities.
Q: How long do I have to be in an FLC?
A: You’ll be in your FLC for two semesters. After you complete your first two semesters, you will no longer be in the program. However, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your old professors, your academic coach, or the FLC program coordinator. They will remain available as resources for you.
Q: How big are the classes I’ll be taking as a student in an FLC?
A: The class sizes in the FLC will range from between 20-25 students.
Q: What is a hands on learning activity?
A: A hands on learning activity takes what students are learning in the classroom and applies it to the real world. Students will be able to acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world situations. For example, students taking Planet Earth could take a trip to a state park to learn about plant species, or students taking Race, Class, and Gender could volunteer at a local food pantry or give presentations about sexual assault advocacy. These experiences will be facilitated by the course instructor.