UNB Saint John Learning Communities

Connect. Collaborate. Succeed.

Starting university is a big step—and you don’t have to take it alone. At UNB Saint John, our Learning Communities program helps first-year students build academic confidence and social connections through peer-led study sessions. Meet new friends and earn bonus marks toward an approved first year course.

What are Learning Communities?

Learning Communities (LCs) are informal, student-focused sessions designed to support your transition to university life. Each week, students meet with a subject expert from our campus to explore student life topics and build connections in a collaborative environment.

Why participate?

• Meet other first-year students and build your support network
• Earn bonus marks toward your final grade
• Feel more confident and connected in your university journey

How does it work?

Weekly sessions: The program runs over six weeks in the fall term, with a new topic each week. Every LC week includes four in-person modules—held Monday through Thursday (no sessions on Fridays). You only need to attend one module per week to stay on track.

Expert-led content: Each module is facilitated by trained Learning Community Student Leaders—fellow UNB Saint John students who understand the challenges of first year. The academic content is delivered by a subject expert from the UNB Saint John community.

Just show up: No registration is required. All modules are in-person, and you simply check yourself in for attendance at each session.

Earn bonus marks

Students in approved first-year courses can earn bonus marks by attending Learning Community modules:

• Attend 4 of the 6 weeks → earn 4 bonus marks
• Attend 5 or 6 weeks → earn 5 bonus marks

At the end of the final week, you’ll be contacted—or can indicate during your last session—which approved course you'd like your bonus marks applied to.

Note: Bonus marks can only be applied to courses on the approved list. Bonus marks cannot be used to change a failing grade to a passing grade.

The bonus marks application is now open for Fall 2026. All submissions must be received by Monday, Dec. 8, 12 p.m.

Add bonus marks

Approved courses

• BA 1501 – How Business Works (Rabie & Peterson)
• COMS 1002 - Media, Truth and the Social Sphere (Nichols)
• CS 1073 - Intro to Com Program I in Java (Kim)
• ECON 1013 – Introduction to Microeconomics (Shiplett)
• ENGL 1001 – Intro to Study of Literature (Collins & Friars)
• ENGL 1101 – Literature in English I (Jones)
• FR 1203 – Communicating in French (Cameron)
• GEOL 1044 - The Earth: Its Origin and Evolution (Wilson)
• HEAL 1001 - Intro Health (Spinney & Byrne)
• HIST 1701 - The Medical Experience (Spinney)
• HUM 1021 – Effective Writing I (Waldshutz & Meagher)
• INDG 1002 – Intro to Indigenous Studies (Iceton)
• NURS 1011 – Nursing As a Profession (Mazerolle & Ells)
• NURS 1032 – Professional Relationships (Driscoll & Vihvelin)
• PHIL 1001 – Introduction to Philosophy I (Chapman-Meloche)
• PHIL 1053 – Intro Logic/Reason/Crit Think (Littlejohn)
• SOCI 1001 - Intro to Sociology (Nezhadhossein, Nombro & Weissman)
• SPAN 1203 – Introductory Spanish I (Garcia Leon)
• UNIV 1003 - Everything I Need in First Yr (Craft, McLure & Thornton)

Schedule

All LC sessions are from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.