Connecting Cyclones through learning communities

“Iowa State is a big university. How will I make friends?”

“Will I find others with similar interests?”

“Am I pursuing the best major for me?”

There’s no doubt that these types of questions weigh heavily on the minds of new students as they kickstart their college journey. It’s not easy leaving behind family, friends, and a familiar environment for the unknown of college life.

To help bridge that transition, Iowa State University encourages first-year and transfer students to join a learning community – a small group of students with similar interests, usually in the same academic major. Here, students get acquainted with their major’s peers and faculty members through common classes, study groups, field trips, service-learning projects, and social activities. Some learning communities even offer residential housing.

“Joining a learning community will be extremely beneficial to all who join one,” said Emma Peters (’26 philosophy, criminal justice), who joined the HOME Learning Community during her first year at Iowa State. “You will make great connections with those going through very similar experiences, and you’ll also be able to make closer connections with faculty and staff at Iowa State who will help you succeed.”

By the numbers

Iowa State offers students nearly 80 different learning community options. Each year, more than 94% of first-year students join a learning community. Since 1995, over 118,000 Iowa State students have connected with friends and faculty through learning communities.

“College is about taking all the right classes and getting the good grades but it’s also about all the other things that surround it,” said Jacque Parker, academic advisor and Criminal Justice League Learning Community advisor. “Getting connected with clubs and faculty members, getting to know people, and networking and building yourself outside of the classroom – a learning community makes it easier to do that and to find people to do that with.”

Students who join a learning community enhance their academic experience in numerous ways. Following are a few examples:

You’re not alone

One of the biggest perks of joining a learning community is the opportunity to meet other students in your major. Danielle Van Dusen (’26 chemistry) was nervous about getting to know her peers when she arrived on campus freshman year, but the camaraderie of the Chemistry Learning Community quickly eased her concerns.

“As an out-of-state student, I came to college knowing no one, so the Chemistry Learning Community, as well as the older peer mentors, helped me with tough classes and helped me meet new people, make friends, and gave me a sense of belonging. It was a safe space to help me get through college,” she said.

Practical skills

Brayden Finley (’25 public relations, political science) joined the HOME Learning Community for open option students because he was unsure of his career path. In addition to helping him choose a major, HOME taught Finely some valuable college skills.

“I learned about campus resources and how to make a class schedule. While it sounds simple now, knowing how to make a class schedule proved to be the most beneficial thing I learned in my learning community,” Finley said.

Faculty interactions

Learning communities also foster relationships between faculty and students, especially important for those students considering undergraduate research opportunities. Ben Noack, academic advisor and Chemistry Learning Community advisor, said new chemistry students are invited to an ice cream social each fall, where they can casually interact with faculty members.

“A lot of [students] benefit from the introduction to faculty,” Noack said. “The majority of our students that are in chemistry get involved with undergraduate research and spend at least one semester in a lab. That first contact with faculty is a helpful introduction.”

Major guidance

Some students immediately select their major, while others need some guidance. Another benefit of learning communities is they encourage students to explore a variety of major options. The HOME Learning Community is dedicated to assisting students enrolled as open option, meaning they haven’t declared a major yet. HOME’s advisors get students to think about what their interests are and what type of career they want to pursue.

“One of our big missions is finding your major,” said Erin Valerio-Garsow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences assistant director of academic advising and advisor of HOME. “We do a majors fair. We try to get as many majors there and have them all together. Our mission is giving students a connection to Iowa State and a connection to a major.”

Peer mentorship

Peer mentors – upper-level students who assist advisors with learning community activities – are integral to the success of Iowa State’s learning communities. They typically teach core classes, meet with first-year students to develop class schedules and answer questions, and plan events and presentations. Peer mentors and their roles within the learning communities are as diverse as the students and majors at the university.

“They are the ones that lead the show,” Noack said about chemistry’s peer mentors. “We’re there to help connect them with resources, but the peer mentors are up front running the class. We’re behind the scenes making sure everything is running smoothly.”

Students new to Iowa State appreciate the wisdom and guidance they receive from peer mentors.

“Having a peer mentor my freshman year was really helpful for me personally,” said Nora Conzemius (’26 chemistry). “I loved that I had at least one person that I could always go to with my questions, or if I needed outside help. My experiences with the peer mentors are what pushed me to apply as one myself.”

A successful college experience often depends on forming connections, inside and outside the classroom. At Iowa State, learning communities offer students the opportunity and resources to not only create friendships but enhance their academic experience. For Valerio-Garsow and her advising team, nothing is more important than that.

“If we don’t get students to connect, especially now in a world that’s so disconnected, then we’re never going to win,” she said. “My team’s biggest goal is to make sure they have a safe spot to land if they need, but also to help them get connected.”