First Year students have a variety of options to live the CI Mission through academic success and integration into the life of the University, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participating in these communities is shown to improve student learning, persistence to the second year, and time to graduation, and foster stronger relationships with peers and faculty. Open to all majors and interests, there are ethnic-studies communities, communities for undeclared students, and communities for those headed for law or health care careers or interested in community-based research, just to name a few.

Our goal is student success. As such, we believe participation in the learning communities program is key to building a student community and an individual sense of belonging on the CI campus. Just as important, programming in our learning communities aims to build student confidence as a student and scholar both in and outside of the classroom.

  • Learning Communities (LCs) provide seats in a block of high-demand courses, as well as a guaranteed seat in at least one high-demand course for the Spring.
  • Each Community has a different theme that is based on major, identity, or interest, and most align with one of the Channel Islands’ Mission Pillars.
  • For the Living-Learning Community (LLC) options, students can live on the LLC campus housing floor with students from their community. They should rank their LLC and/or LC choices in the Joining the Pod survey, submit the housing application application (priority deadline is June 2, 2023) and pay all applicable housing fees. The student housing application can be accessed through myCI (under myLinks) and is available now. Depending on demand, you may be placed into any one of the preferences that you rank in the Joining the Pod Survey, so think carefully about the courses that you are committing to.
  • Placement in Learning Communities and those with the Living-Learning option is on a first-come, first-served basis in a co-requisite block of classes in designated sections. Rank your top four preferences in the Joining the Pod Survey for placement in a Learning Community. Placed students will enroll in LC/LLC classes during the Guided Registration process at Orientation.
  • Students registered in LC and LLC Fall courses should make note of the whole year’s course lineup, and be sure to NOT register in the Fall for a course that they will take in the Spring.

Students placed in Living-Learning Communities and Learning Communities ahead of Orientation will be informed of their placement, and will add the courses to their schedule through Guided Registration during Orientation. If there is still space during Orientation, students can add linked LC/LLC courses when registering for the rest of their classes.

When CSUCI was founded, it was determined that in addition to campus mission, CI would work to uphold four mission pillars:

  • Community engagement – Valuable experience you need and a chance to make the world better
  • Integrative – CSUCI’s signature interdisciplinary approach.
  • International – An internationalized curriculum, a diverse campus community, and studying abroad opportunities.
  • Multicultural – A campus that reflects the real world; a curriculum that prepares you for it.
Graph of CSUCI's Four Mission Pillars

Many Learning Communities include GE courses and themes aligned with these Mission Pillars:

Community Engagement Mission Pillar

  • Performance and Politics
  • Serve It Up

Integrative Mission Pillar

  • Computer Science Community
  • Health Care Community
  • Islands Community
  • Pre-law
  • Understanding Space and Belonging
  • Discovery Social Science
  • Strange New Worlds
  • Health Care

Multicultural Mission Pillar

  • Michele Serros
  • Bedford and Dr. Irene Pinkard
  • Discovery: Writing Exploration
  • Discovery: Culture & Communication

International Mission Pillar

  • Windows on the World (WOW)
  • National and Global Perspectives on Community and Culture (Spring)
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