“Imagining the American Dream, Freedom and Terror: Cultures in Conflict,” and “Picturing Community: The Language of Photography and Storytelling” are just two of the unique learning communities that students and community members have the opportunity to enroll in this spring at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

 

Learning communities integrate two or more courses in ways that connect the knowledge of each course. “I Sing the Body Electric” combines First-Year Composition and Biology, while “Improve Your MATHitude,” integrates Introductory Algebra and a Study Skills Development class.

David Finley, CGCC English faculty, teaches multiple learning communities at CGCC which combine First-Year Composition with humanities and history courses - including “Freedom and Terror: Cultures in Conflict,” which examines issues surrounding the concepts of freedom and terror in various cultures around the globe through an analysis of some of the world’s contemporary literary and cinematic works.

“Our learning communities typically combine a skills course (reading, writing, math) with a content course because it makes more sense to teach the skills courses, which students are required to take, within the context of a content course,” Finley said. “It's hard to teach skills within a vacuum since that’s not how any of those skills are really used or applied in the outside world. The benefit is not just taking two courses with an integrated curriculum, but seeing connections across disciplines.”

Pictured: CGCC English faculty Patrick Williams with learning community students Merandah Kallos (left) and Morgan Stevens (right).

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State legislators visited Chandler-Gilbert Community College on October 20, 2011 to learn about the college and it's Workforce Development programs.  The legislators had the opportunity to visit a biomedical research technology class and an engineering class, view the projects students were working on, and talk to students about their experiences at CGCC.

Pictured (left to right) Representative Tom Forese, Representative Eddie Farnsworth, CGCC President Linda Lujan, Representative JD Mesnard, Senator Steve Yarbrough, and Representative Steve Urie.

Registration for spring 2012 classes is now underway at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The spring semester begins January 15, 2012.

“Required courses such as math, science, and English are the first to fill, so we urge students to register as soon as possible to get the classes they need and to avoid long enrollment wait times in December and January,” said Ryan Cain, coordinator of CGCC Enrollment Services. “Our academic advisors are available to help students create a plan to reach both their educational and career goals.”

 

 

Cain says that students who are not yet admitted to CGCC can begin the admissions process by applying online at my.maricopa.edu.  New students and their families will also be able to attend an orientation session prior to the start of classes which will provide information about college programs and services, as well as a tour of the campus.

 

 

In addition to a variety of morning, afternoon, evening, and Saturday classes, CGCC offers eLearning for students unable to attend classes on campus. Formats include online classes, in which students can take CGCC classes from the comfort of their own home through their personal computer; hybrid format classes, in which a portion of the class is taught face-to-face on campus and the other portion takes place online; and self-paced classes in which students can complete course work at home on their personal computer or in the CGCC Computer Lab at their own pace.

Pictured: CGCC student and single mom Cara Taylor will take two online classes next semester to fit her busy schedule.

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