First-Year Enrichment « Students « College of Liberal Arts & Sciences « University of Illinois

LAS Student Handbook

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Student Enrichment

• First-Year Enrichment
  • Learning Communities
  • Global Studies
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First-Year Enrichment

Here are several ways for first-semester students to explore their interests and have a great educational experience.

Learning Communities

Learning Communities are small groups of 15 to 20 students who are enrolled together in the same General Education course. A wide variety of courses have an LC associated with them, so you won’t have any trouble finding one that fits your interests or your major. The LC associated with the course you select (LAS 100) will meet for a one-hour weekly discussion where an upperclass Learning Leader will share tips on navigating the University, teach skills for academic success, and introduce you to campus resources. In the LC you can form study groups for the General Education course, talk about the issues that all first-year students face, and make lasting friendships.

Global Studies Initiative

The Global Studies Initiative offers a choice of several 100-level, General Education courses in different subjects that introduce you to world cultures while challenging you to recognize and assess the forces of globalization. You also will enroll in a one-hour course, Global Awareness I (LAS 101), in which you and a small group of classmates from your General Education class will be introduced to the campus’s resources and activities and complete a team project on a timely global topic and you will begin to understand your role as a world citizen. A Global Studies Intern leads your weekly LAS 101 class, serving as a mentor and helping you to transition successfully to U of I.

• Courses Abroad—Global Studies
  Students in the Global Studies program receive priority enrollment for three-week courses abroad during winter break. Locations have included Brazil, China, France, Italy, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey.

Illinois Experience

The Illinois Experience (LAS 111) was developed in response to requests for an introduction to college from students who could not fit a Learning Community or Global Studies Initiative class into their schedules. The two programs are similar except that Illinois Experience is not linked to a General Education course. Students will work with experienced peer mentors, participate in weekly discussions, and learn the skills to succeed at the U of I. Illinois Experience is a great way to find study partners and to make lasting friends. This course will get you started on your successful and fulfilling career in LAS.

James Scholar Encounter Series

The James Scholar Encounter Series is your opportunity, as an honors student, to build a foundation towards discovering your voice, readying yourself to make a difference, and becoming a competent and agile learner in the realms of citizenship, stewardship, and leadership. The fall semester course, Intro to World Citizenship (LAS 120), introduces you to the University and offers a critical look at current global events. You will work with a small group of scholars in a one-hour weekly graded session. The second Encounter course—Leadership and Society (LAS 122)—will be offered in the spring.