Huber Learning Community

Contact Information

Sharon Babcock

Description

The Huber Learning Community is a new residential learning community for 20 first-year, pre-professional health students. Established in fall 2006, the Huber Learning Community takes a different approach to introducing pre-professional health students from different majors into community-based experiential learning in the health field. The Huber Learning Community, located in Potomac Hall, enhances pre-professional health students’ academic success. Starting college is tough for any student and the transition can be a major stumbling block to academic success. Students are encouraged to interact with faculty and to make friendships with other first-year students with similar interests. The community can provide a built-in support system for new students who are interested in cross-disciplinary learning as well as the pursuit of a professional health career. The Huber Learning Community establishes a living-learning environment where participants learn to integrate their undergraduate coursework and preparation for professional training and career. More importantly, these students will gain early experience by working with healthcare professionals from local communities in need. Students meet with trained healthcare professionals and faculty, and learn skills in building partnerships as well as solving problems. To achieve these goals, the Huber Learning Community encourages its members to look beyond volunteerism, to integrate their academic and service learning experiences, and to reflect upon how the experience impacts their academic and career goals. The Huber Learning Community is a new residential learning community for 20 first-year, pre-professional health students. Established in fall 2006, the Huber Learning Community takes a different approach to introducing pre-professional health students from different majors into community-based experiential learning in the health field. The Huber Learning Community, located in Potomac Hall, enhances pre-professional health students’ academic success. Starting college is tough for any student and the transition can be a major stumbling block to academic success. Students are encouraged to interact with faculty and to make friendships with other first-year students with similar interests. The community can provide a built-in support system for new students who are interested in cross-disciplinary learning as well as the pursuit of a professional health career. The Huber Learning Community establishes a living-learning environment where participants learn to integrate their undergraduate coursework and preparation for professional training and career. More importantly, these students will gain early experience by working with healthcare professionals from local communities in need. Students meet with trained healthcare professionals and faculty, and learn skills in building partnerships as well as solving problems. To achieve these goals, the Huber Learning Community encourages its members to look beyond volunteerism, to integrate their academic and service learning experiences, and to reflect upon how the experience impacts their academic and career goals.

Web Presence

http://www.jmu.edu/iihhs/huberlearningcommunity.shtml

Involvement

Involves Faculty, Involves Students, Involves Participants External to JMU

Date

Established in 2006

Frequency

Ongoing (Currently in existence, year round)

Primary Focus of Program

Health and Healthcare

Areas of Engagement

Community Engagement, Engaged Learning

Format

Program

On/Off campus

On campus