Welcome to Freshman Learning Communities

Valdosta State University has offered learning communities for incoming freshmen for over 13 years through first-year programs.

Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) provide an opportunity for students to begin their college experience with other students who share similar interests and career objectives. FLCs consist of small groups of 22-25 first-semester college students taking two to three linked courses as a group. Each learning community is designed to ease the transition from high school to college by allowing freshmen to acquire educational and social skills crucial to their long-term academic success, through an integrated learning environment.

To view the FLC Fall 2013 Schedule of Classes, click here.

Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) are becoming popular on college campuses because they have both social and educational values for college freshmen:

Social

  • Students will begin their college experience with other students who share similar interests and career objectives
  • Eased transition from high school to college
  • Students connect with peers to form study groups and increased classroom participation
  • Pre-registration for 8-9 hours of first-semester courses

Educational

  • FLCs are centered on academic and/or career interests
  • Statistically high first-semester GPA (2011 VSU Retention Analysis)
  • Each FLC has a course with a component that introduces students to a major or program at VSU
  • Supplemental Instructors (SI leaders) in many of the math and science courses.
  • Increased faculty and student interaction