Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
The University Learning Communities invite proposal from the University community for
new Learning Communities for the 2013-2014 Academic Year. Proposals are due by
August 15, 2012.
Proposals to initiate new learning communities are being accepted. Learning community
proposals should clearly reflect the learning outcomes of the departments, colleges and
programs represented. It is also important that proposals reflect support from
constituencies represented so that learning communities continue to be integrated into the
existing structures of the university.
The RFP is available online at:
http://www.uww.edu/admissions/learningcommunity/resources.php.
Approval Criteria:
 Programs that foster an integrated curriculum in which course content is connected
and course participants interact. These programs promote innovative pedagogy, and
may incorporate cooperative learning strategies, out of class learning connections,
interdisciplinary teams, and/or service learning.
 Programs that have a specific, comprehensive assessment plan that addresses clearly
articulated, intended learning outcomes for students.
 Programs that demonstrate plans for sustainability and demonstrate college and/or
departmental support.
 Programs that enhance the integration of the residential and academic life of the
student.
Additional Emphasis will be placed upon:
 Programs that promote enhanced success for underrepresented groups
 Programs that provide outreach to student populations currently not served by the
university learning communities
 Programs that support the UW-System growth agenda.
Please consult with us while developing your proposal. Please contact Kelli Danielski,
Program Manager danielsk@uww.edu or Lana Collet-Klingenberg, Interim Director,
University Learning Communities, colletkl@uww.edu both at Roseman 2009 or phone:
262-472-1262.
Submissions should be submitted electronically to danielsk@uww.edu by 5:00 pm August
15, 2012.
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
1. Proposed Course Title/Theme:
A very brief title that describes the “theme” of your proposed freshman learning community
Examples: “Calculated Careers,” “Making a Difference,” “Beaux Arts Colony”
Your proposed Title/Theme: Limit: 30 characters
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Suggest a “Blurb”
A brief and catchy paragraph that describes the community.
Example: Legal Eagles: This learning community is designed for first year students
interested in exploring law and criminal justice as possible majors and careers. The
common theme that will be woven through each of the classes is the role of law and the
legal system in society. Guest speakers working in related fields will be invited to interact
with members of the learning community and field trips are planned. The UW-Whitewater
Pre-Law advisor is one of the faculty members teaching in this learning community. The
learning community is available for anyone considering a career in law or criminal justice
including Political Science, Pre-Law, Sociology/Criminal Justice, and Business Law students.
You do not have to declare one of the majors listed above to participate.
Your suggested “Blurb”: (Limit 1000 characters)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
3. Intended Learning Outcomes This section describes what an ideal student would
have gained as a result of being involved in your learning community. These should reflect
specific goals that are important to your learning community. In general, a few key learning
outcome statements are better than a laundry list. Explain what you want the student to be
able to do or what the student will need to know in order to do this well.
Corresponding Department/College/Program Outcomes This section explains how you
may link your LC to outcomes specific to your constituency represented by the LC.
Specific LC Experiences Designed to Meet the Learning Outcomes
This section
describes the type of activities that your learning community will provide for students that
will help them meet the learning outcome. Explain what specific activity(ies) will facilitate
the learning outcomes.
Assessment Methodologies for Intended Learning Outcomes This section explains
how you will know if your experience helped students to meet the learning outcome.
Describe the method you will use to measure how well students met that goal. Explain how
the student will demonstrate the learning or how you will know the student has done this
well.
Intended
Learning
Outcomes
Department/College/ Specific LC
Program Outcomes
Experiences
Designed to Meet
the Outcomes
Assessment
Methodologies For
Intended Outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
4. List other faculty and staff who are directly involved with your learning
community:
Name:
Position
Department:
Involvement:
What specific plans do you have to further enhance direct involvement of faculty
with the learning community?
NON-ACADEMIC COLLABORATIONS
List the specific partnerships with non-academic units (Residence Life, Academic
Advising Center, First Year Experience, Academic Support Services, service-learning
partners, professional partners, etc. — with whom you plan to work. Briefly describe
each of the collaborations.
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
5. LEARNING COMMUNITY COURSES
List all courses that are part of your learning community and indicate which are linked or
clustered. Please confirm if all students registered for the class will be members of the
Learning Community.

Linked = curricula of two or more classes are intertwined; content of courses is
coordinated between faculty (if linked, please identify which courses)

Clustered = students take courses together as a cohort group, but the curricula of those
courses are not integrated. (Learning Community facilitates integration outside the
courses.)
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Note: All Learning Communities will take a one credit course with the Learning
Community Coordinator in the Fall Semester.

Intraunv 104: New Student Seminar (1 credit)
This course is designed to help facilitate a positive adjustment to the first year of
college through the development of both written and oral communication skills,
critical thinking skills, and group presentation skills. Students will explore the
purposes of higher education and its potential outcomes; develop skills of social
interaction, self-awareness, and personal development through team projects and
class presentations, attendance at University events, and programs promotion an
appreciation of diversity review the university’s resources, policies, and
procedures; investigate personal interests and strengths while setting academic
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
and personal goals; learn effective skills to help them cope with the world around
them.
5. Why are you interested? (There is NO LIMIT on the quantity of this text.)
• (We suggest you develop this statement and edit it in a word processing program, and copy
and paste your text into the web form.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Interest Statement
------------
6. Provide any additional information that you think would be helpful for the
evaluation of your proposal.
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
Signature of proposer(s):
_____________________________________________________________
Date:____________
_____________________________________________________________
Date:____________
Signature of Department Chair/Director/Supervisor:
_____________________________________________________________
Date:____________
Signature of Dean (or Representative from Dean’s office):
_____________________________________________________________
Date:____________
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
Frequently Cited Goals
of Learning Communities
Goals for Students
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Improve retention
Increase student learning and achievement
Increase time on task both in and out of class
Promote active learning and teamwork skills
Develop student leadership
Increase the success rate for under-represented students
Increase entry and completion in certain majors
Goals for Faculty
▪
▪
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Increase experimentation within curriculum
Broaden pedagogical repertoire of faculty
Increase faculty engagement with one another
Promote deeper interaction among faculty and students
Promote interaction between junior and senior faculty
Promote stronger relationships among faculty and student
affairs staff
Goals for Student
Affairs Staff
▪
Promote deeper interaction between student affairs and
faculty
Create meaningful opportunities for student leadership
development
Broaden pedagogical repertoire and deeper interaction
among student affairs professionals and students
▪
▪
Goals for Curriculum
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Increase coherence of general education program
Make curriculum more interdisciplinary
Infuse skills such as writing and speaking across the
curriculum
Create more engaging entry points to certain majors
Create coherent linkages for students in a minor
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Request for Proposals
University Learning Communities
Academic Year 2013-2014
Goals for Institution
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Enhance the quality of undergraduate education
Foster a climate of innovation
Increase the sense of community within the institution
Promote meaningful collaboration between faculty and staff,
faculty and administration
Promote a culture of assessment, of learning about student
learning
Goals for Community
▪
Increase connection between the academy and the
community by building learning communities with service or
civic learning components
Goals for Parents
▪
Enroll their son or daughter in an institution that promotes
student success, active learning and intellectual
engagement
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