FARMINGTON — Some students with a common interest at the University of Maine at Farmington are participating in learning communities started this semester.

The students take the same linked courses or live in themed floors of dorms among peers with similar academic goals, providing opportunities for study groups. They get to know each other and grow from living and learning with others based on a common interest, Rob Lively, UMF associate provost and dean of academic services, said.

“Learning communities promote a student’s sense of identity and belonging,” he said. “They provide the kind of connection and support that produces the highest level of collaboration, enhanced learning and student success.”

UMF recently received a grant from the Association of American Colleges and Universities to help fund the learning communities. Participating students will decide how best to use the $2,500 grant, that may include guest speakers or field trips, he said. Other than time and effort for organization, there have been no other expenses for the endeavor, he said.

There’s a nationwide interest in creating learning communities as promoted by George Kuh of Indiana University. Kuh also endorses student research with faculty and first-year seminar experiences for improving a student’s well-being, increasing their commitment to learning and intellectual interaction with other students and faculty, Lively said. Kuh is the founder of the National Survey of Student engagement.

Learning communities can be done in a couple of ways, Lively said. In the classroom, students stay together through linked courses or those related by content such as a U.S. History I class coupled with a first-year seminar on the future of America. Students enrolled in both classes create a community that allows students and faculty of both courses to work together, sharing their knowledge and learning experience.

Related courses allow students of classes from different academic disciplines to come together for common speakers, discussions and activities.

Themed floors in dorms were created after students were polled last spring on where they would like to live, Lively said. Three areas of shared common interest developed into themed floors, a healthy Wellness Community, a Writers Nook and an Artists Affinity for those interested in art or fine art, he said.

Not all the students on the writing floor are writing majors but those interested in writing are included. The Wellness Community was born from students interested in living in a healthy environment where there’s no smoking, drinking or drugs.

Next spring more themed floors are expected to be developed around those who are taking the same classes as many on the healthy community floor are already, he said.

[email protected]