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 in both the Fall and Winter terms. Bonus marks are issued after each term. Sessions are delivered every 2 weeks 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
• No bonus marks for less than 4 sessions attended.

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.

Approved Winter 2026 courses

• BA 1501 – How Business Works – Rabie
• BIOL 1302 – Introduction to Environmental Biology – Samways
• CS 1073 – Introduction to Computer Programming I (in Java) – McNally
• ECON 1013 – Introduction to Microeconomics – Moir
• ECON 1023 – Introduction to Macroeconomics – Ibn-Boamah
• ENGL 1001 – Introduction to the Study of Literature – Bryant
• GEOL 1074 – Earth Processes, Resources and the Environment – Wilson
• HEAL 1002 – Introduction to Health from a Global Perspective – Byrne
• HIST 1101 – European Experience – Fury
• HIST 1301 – Canadian Historical Issues – Marquis
• HIST 1601 – Global History – Bonar
• HUM 1021 – Introduction to Humanities – Waldschutz
• INDG 1002 – Introduction to Indigenous Studies – Bryant, Iceton
• MATH 1863 – Precalculus – McNally
• NURS 2011 – Concepts for Professional Nursing Practice – Jones
• SOCI 1001 – Introduction to Sociology – Knopf & Nezhadhossein
• SPAN 1204 – Introductory Spanish II – Garcia Leon
• PHIL 1002 – Introduction to Philosophy II – Eldridge
• PHIL 1053 – Critical Thinking – Littlejohn
• POLS 1201 – Introduction to Canadian Politics – Lewis
• UNIV 1003 – Everything I Need to Know in First Year – Thornton, Craft

Schedule

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