Under the auspices of federal and local Sid Richardson grants, Texas Wesleyan University is proud to announce launching learning communities across its general education curriculum over the next two years.  Learning and civic engagement opportunities represent intentional educational approaches to improve the teaching and learning experience. These approaches emphasize the integration of the curriculum and co-curriculum and prioritize community-building among faculty, staff, and a cohort of students.

This new program is the product of a careful partnership between Wesleyan's Office of Advancement and various faculty and staff across the university.  After two years of outreach and engagement with the National Learning Communities Association as well as piloting service learning opportunities across the university, Wesleyan's commitment to student success and career-readiness is moving to the next level in 2026 as learning communities, civil engagement, and career-readiness will be embedded across the university community. 

Capitalizing on its highly successful "Smaller. Smarter." approach, this initiative moves beyond traditional isolated coursework to create a holistic educational environment that dramatically improves student engagement and success. Learning communities intentionally break down the historical separation between the classroom and campus life.

For Wesleyan, learning communities will involve dedicated faculty who interact with students both in and out of the classroom, providing more informal mentorship and guidance. This makes faculty more approachable and enhances the feeling of being a valued participant in the learning enterprise. Specifically, this will include linked and integrated classes, community service, job shadowing, and internships.

This initiative will prepare undergraduate students for professional success and leadership in the community. By making academic learning a shared, collaborative, and socially supported endeavor, Texas Wesleyan hopes that this initiative will significantly boost retention rates, academic performance (GPA), and overall satisfaction for students.