New Students

Learning communities

Any student can participate in a Learning Community. Professors who are interested in having their course participate are asked to email unbsjreg@unb.ca.

How to participate

The Fall Learning Community program will commence during the week of Sept. 26, 2022, in person on campus at UNB Saint John.

The Fall program will have six modules delivered over 11 weeks. Each module will be delivered four times a week - you only need to attend one session for each module to be considered as attended the module.

Over the term, if you wish to change from one time slot to another, you are free to do so. Attendance is tracked and combined for all four sessions students attend for each module.

Modules and times

The university environment has a different culture, a different language, and classes move at a much faster pace. This module will help orient you to some of the nuances of studying in the university environment, what to expect, and cultural norms.

  • Monday, Sept 26, 9:30 a.m | Ganong Hall 115
  • Tuesday, Sept 27, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Sept 28, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Sept 29, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115

Did you know that being socially involved during your university studies is almost as important as academic — why do you think so many professional organizations are interested in your extracurricular activities and volunteer experiences? During this module, you will get to hear about opportunities on campus that happen outside the classroom, and how best to balance the social with the academic.

  • Tuesday, Oct 11, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Oct 12, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Oct 13, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115
  • Friday, Oct 14, 9:30 p.m | Ganong Hall 115

What are the habits that are key to student success? Is it all about doing the readings and attending class? Or is there something more? This module will take a conscious look at the best ways to approach learning.

  • Monday, Oct 24, 9:30 a.m | Ganong Hall 115
  • Tuesday, Oct 25, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Oct 26, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Oct 27, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115

Being an ethical student goes beyond simply not cheating. Students can find themselves unintentionally involved in questionable academic practices simply because the rules are misunderstood. This module will investigate some common ways students accidentally find themselves in trouble, and what you can do to avoid that!

  • Monday, Nov 14, 9:30 a.m | Ganong Hall 115
  • Tuesday, Nov 15, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Nov 16, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Nov 17, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115

Managing the demands of university life can build up and challenge even the most resilient students. During this module, we will take a step back and look at some practices to help manage our time and our well-being.

  • Monday, Nov 21, 9:30 a.m | Ganong Hall 115
  • Tuesday, Nov 22, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Nov 23, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Nov 24, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115

This module provides students with advice on the next steps in planning their degrees, careers, and life. Now that the first term is nearing an end, let’s look back and see if there are any lessons learned that can help us plan for the future.

  • Monday, Dec 5, 9:30 a.m | Ganong Hall 115
  • Tuesday, Dec 6, 12 p.m | Irving Hall 105
  • Wednesday, Dec 7, 1 p.m | Hazen Hall 236 – Computer Lab
  • Thursday, Dec 8, 2:30 p.m. | Ganong Hall 115

How to join a Learning Community

Show up! No registration is required, just attend the meetings and participate at the posted times.

There are four different time slots per week. These sessions have the same topic but may vary in approach. You are welcome to attend more than one session if you wish.

Should we be forced to deliver the program virtually, The Learning Community Program Teams Channel meeting links will be available on the day of the session in the appropriate “day” channel – but the time and day of the week will not change.

Teams will only be used if we need to go online, and you will be able to join a meeting posted on the channel which will correspond with the session schedules listed.

Sticking to one time slot throughout the program increases your chances of making deeper connections with other students, while attending different time slots can make it easier to meet more people — the choice is yours!

Bonus points

You can get up to 5% added to your final grade in a participating course based on your attendance:

  • 5 or 6 different modules: 5 bonus points
  • 4 different modules: 4 bonus points
  • Fewer than 4 mandatory modules: no bonus points

Points must be applied to a single participating course. You cannot divide your bonus points between two or more courses. They cannot be used to move from a failing grade to a passing grade.

If you are uncertain about your attendance, it is your responsibility to check with the Learning Community Leaders outside the normal tutorial time. Decisions regarding attendance are final. Instructors and advisors are not involved in any way with the day-to-day running of the Learning Community and will not be involved in attendance or tutorial procedures.

Participating courses

This list is subject to change. Confirm with your professor that the course is participating in this program.

Faculty of Arts

  • ENGL 1001 | Gemma, M.
  • FR 1203 l Bolen, L.
  • HIST 1701 | Spinney, E.
  • PHIL 1001 | Eldridge, P.
  • PHIL 1053 | Littlejohn, M.
  • POLS 1201 | Lewis, J.P.
  • POLS 1301 | Munoz-Martinez, H.
  • UNIV 1003 | All sections

Faculty of Business

  • BA 1501 | Fleet, G.
  • ECON 1023 | Ibn-Boamah, M.
  • ECON 1013 | Moir, R.

Faculty of Science, Applied Science & Engineering

  • BIOL1105 | Houlahan, J.
  • CS1073 | Tasse, J.
  • BIOL1411 | Turnbull, S.D.
  • NURS 1011 | Mazerolle, D.

Shared programs

  • HEAL 1001 | Oyet, M. & Spinney, E.