Learning Communities
What is a Learning Community?
Learning Communities are linked classes taught by trained faculty members who combine the content of the linked courses so that learning becomes easier and more relevant for the student. Teams of students share the same classes, and, with the support of their instructors and counselor, work together toward meeting the goal of educational success. Learning Communities may offer special workshops, field trips, and/or activities which make the classes more enjoyable, productive, and social. Come to the Counseling Center and ask to speak to a counselor who can assist you with any of the below programs.
What is ALC?
The Exponential Learning Academy is a yearlong Athletic Learning Community that focuses on university transfer and the student-athlete experience. The learning community is a link of two or more classes that assist you with your college and transfer success. This is a ONE-YEAR Commitment! The two linked classes for fall semester are English114 paired with Personal Development (PD 114). Followed up with English 115 paired with Personal Development (PD 100) during the spring semester.
ALC is a student success program aimed at enhancing academic success among student- athletes and other students enrolled at Southwestern Community College. ALC classes provide a combination of courses for student- athletes to start seeking a unique learning experience. This program pairs student-athletes with a mentor and helps to develop a sense of community amongst student athletes, faculty, staff, and administrators.
- Provide pathways to successfully transition from non-transfer courses to transfer courses through an integrative approach.
- Help successfully complete college English requirements within two years while completing additional general education requirements.
- Teaching Personal Development (PD) classes in a learning community.
- Provide in class advising/workshops in learning community classroom.
- Counseling appointments to develop an educational plan and an educational goals quantitative report.
- Field trips to universities.
- Collaborate with classmates during class discussions and assignments (group work).
- Attend and participate in EVERY (LC) class.
The Athletic Counselors at Southwestern College is responsible for monitoring the academic progress of each student-athlete. They work closely with student-athletes as they explore their career goals. Student-athletes are also monitored for their eligibility status for transfer towards NCAA/NAIA institutes.
ALC Welcomes all student-athletes: The student-athlete Learning Community is open to all student-athletes at Southwestern College and is designed to assist student-athletes to learn college and life skills. This will prepare our scholars for transfer success!
Benefits to Students
ALC Mission Statement
Our mission is to increase the number of Student-Athletes transferring to four-year colleges and universities! We thrive to assist Student-Athletes Scholars to gain a better understanding of their identity in order to foster a stronger sense of navigating through higher education in the pursuit of college transfer achievement and lifelong success!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take one of the two classes only?
No. You must be enrolled in both courses. - Are these classes transferrable?
Yes. The courses are UC and CSU transfer credits. - Are there any prerequisites?
Yes, English 115: College Composition Reading And Writing Analytically has the prerequisites of English 114: Introduction to College Composition.
ALC Events
- Beginning of the Semester Retreat
- College Visits: San Diego State University (SDSU) & University of California San Diego (UCSD) and University of San Diego (USD)
- Southwestern College (SWC) Community Events
- Special Guest Speaker Series
Interested? Please make contact with your Head Coach and Athletic Counselor or come to the SWC Counseling Center and ask to meet with our Athletic Counselor. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Center, or call (619) 421-6700 x5240.
What is Bayan?
Bayan is a Tagalog word that means “home”. This learning community provides a home
for all students that want to learning about the Filipino-American experience through
literature and history. A learning community is a link of two or more classes that
assist you with your college and transfer success. This is a ONE YEAR Commitment!
The two linked classes for fall semester are English 115 paired with Personal Development
100. Followed up with English 116 paired with Personal Development 114 during the
spring semester.
Bayan Welcomes Everyone
Bayan is open to all students and is designed to assist students to learn college and life skills. This will prepare our scholars for transfer success!
Benefits to Students
- Make lifelong friends
- Learn in a supportive environment
- Are recognized as leaders and scholars
- Visit college campuses
- Succeed academically
- Gain appreciation for one's cultural identity
- Explore issues minority students face in college
- Explore and learn more about the Filipino/Filipino-American experience
- Priority Counseling
- Participate in culturally-enriching activities
- Make university contacts
- Learn strategies for success in college and in life
- Priority Registration
- Caring Scholars and Professors
- Create a successful transfer plan
- Become part of the college community
Bayan History
Bayan was founded in 2006 by Professors, Maria Abuan, M.S. and Henry Aronson, M.S., at Southwestern Community College. They collaborated to create the first Fil- Am Student focused learning community in Southern California. These two inspirational leaders wanted to acknowledge the issues that Filipino-American students faced in higher education. They wanted to challenge college students to learn about Fil-Am issues through a cultural context presented via Fil-Am history and cultural literature written by Fil-Am authors. Scholars in this program are encouraged to create a supportive and intellectual learning environment. As well, these scholars create study groups, work on Barkada (Team) projects, and cultivate lifelong friendships.
Bayan Mission Statement
Our mission is to increase the number of Filipino/Filipino-American students transferring to four-year colleges and universities! We thrive to assist Bayan Scholars to gain a better understanding of their identity in order to foster a stronger sense of navigating through higher education in the pursuit of college transfer achievement and lifelong success!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take one of the two classes only?
No. You must be enrolled in both courses. - Are these classes transferrable?
Yes. All coursework are UC and CSU transfer credits. - Are there any prerequisites?
Yes. English 115 requires English 114 or English 99 or direct placement into English 115.
Bayan Events
- Beginning of the Semester Retreat
- Fil-Am Movie Series
- Amigo: Film based on the Fil-Am War
- The Debut – Coming of Age movie about the rejection of the Filipino culture and family
- Documented – Documentary by Juan Antonio Vargas
- Silent Sacrifices
- Miss Representation
- The Mask You Live In
- College Visits: SDSU, UCSD and USD
- Community Events
- Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS SD)
- San Diego Asian Film Festival
- Special Guest Speaker Series
- Evelina Galang – author of “Her Wild American Self”
- Ella De Castro Baron – Author of “Itchy Brown Girl”
- Dr. Dina Maramba – Author of The “Other Students”
Interested? Complete the Eligibility Application or come to the SWC Counseling Center and ask to meet with our Bayan Counselor. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Center, or call (619) 421-6700 x5240.
It is with great excitement that we share our new Learning Community, CHEL with you!! CHEL is an Aztec/Nahuatl word that means, "rainbow".
Our Learning Community focus will be on the LGBTQIA+ life experience and issues. We will also focus on topics and discussions related to the pursuit of higher education.
There are many benefits for joining the CHEL Learning Community:
- First 15 students will be loaned a laptop while they are in the program
- Priority Registration
- Academic planning and overall support
- Make lifelong friends
- Learn in a supportive environment
- Explore issues LGBTQIA+ students face in college
- Succeed academically and personally
- Create a sense of belonging on campus
Our learning community welcomes both LGBTQIA+ community members and our allies. The year-long program will include culturally-enriching activities, life-changing experiences, and meaningful workshops. We look forward to being part of your educational and personal journey.
Contact: Kimi Rodriguez-McSwain, Coordinator/Counselor
619-421-6700 ext 5231
The FYE program is designed to assist students through their first year in college. Dedicated counselors and peer mentors will assist and guide FYE students through the college process, providing encouragement and support during the important first year of college.
Benefits:
- Enrollment Priority
- Designated Counselor
- Career and Educational Planning
- Designated Peer Mentor
- Workshops and Activities
- Personal Development Lifelong Success
- Special Events throughout the year
- Student Retention
Eligibility
New student with no prior college experience or recent high school graduate
Where do you begin?
Participate in the FYE Online Orientation and sign the FYE Student Agreement. Please complete the FYE Interest form and we will email you information on how to participate in this great program.
FYE Video Presentation
Southwestern College, First Year Experience - FYE
Peer Mentor Testimonials
Our Commitment
Gary Brown, FYE Specialist & Yesenia Vargas, FYE Coordinator, Counselor
Contact us:
Virtual Office through Cranium Cafe (Virtual Office)-” knock on door” of front office staff
Email: swcfye@swccd.edu
Phone: 619-421-6700 ext. 5625
Social Media
The PUENTE Project is an academic preparation program that has improved the college-going rate of tens of thousands of California's educationally disadvantaged students. Its mission is to increase the number of educationally disadvantaged students who:
- Enroll in four-year colleges and universities
- Earn college degrees
- Return to the community as mentors and leaders of future generations
PUENTE Project History
PUENTE was founded in 1981 by the Co-Directors, Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath, at Chabot College in Hayward, California. The Project's mission was to increase the number of Mexican-American/Latino students transferring to four-year colleges and universities. Since then, PUENTE has expanded to 57 community college and 36 high schools in California.
Outstanding Results
Community colleges with PUENTE programs transfer significantly more Latino students to the University of California than colleges without PUENTE. Southwestern College PUENTE Project has successfully transferred hundreds of students to major universities and colleges.
PUENTE – What is it all about?
PUENTE is open to all students and is designed to meet the needs of students from populations with low rates of enrollment at four-year colleges. PUENTE Project Faculty recruit students from high schools, our own community college campus and student orientations. Students who are college bound enroll in the program by attending a campus orientation, and completing and application and interview process. Students must be eligible for English 114 in the fall of the academic year. Students come from a range of backgrounds and are usually the first in their families to attend college.
Students in PUENTE work closely with their counselor, English instructor, and mentor to prepare for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. PUENTE students will participate in the following three main components:Counseling
PUENTE students take a 3 unit, transferable Personal Development 100, College Success Skills class in the fall. Additionally, they work individually with the PUENTE counselor until they graduate from Southwestern College, exploring career options, developing an academic educational plan, and identifying lifetime goals. Students visit UC and CSU campuses and attend an annual PUENTE Motivational Conference.
English Instruction
PUENTE students take two consecutive writing classes, English 114 and English 115 with the same PUENTE English Instructor. These classes provide a supportive environment for PUENTE students to build confidence in their writing skills. The content of both courses focuses on Latino/a authors and issues.
Mentoring
Each PUENTE student is matched with a mentor who is a businessperson or professional in the local community. Students and their mentors commit to a minimum of nine hours of contact during the academic year. Mentors share their knowledge and experiences with students. The network of trained PUENTE mentors provides many resources for the PUENTE students, their families, their colleges, and the community.
Benefits to Students
- Join the PUENTE Club
- Become part of the San Diego PUENTE Project Alliance
- Are recognized as leaders and scholars
- Visit college campuses
- Succeed academically
- Belong to a statewide network of leaders and professionals
- Meet professionals in our community
- Graduate from four-year colleges and universities
- Develop and improve reading and writing skills
- Network with students from throughout Southern California
- Participate in culturally-enriching activities
- Make university contacts
- Create a successful transfer plan
- Learn strategies for success in college and in life
- Meet new Friends
- Become part of the college community
Interested? Fill out this Student Information Form or come to the SWC Counseling Center and ask to meet with our PUENTE Counselor. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Center, or call (619) 421-6700 x5240.
UMOJA (A Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American and other students.
Umoja actively serves and promotes student success for all students through a curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas.
Umoja links the following courses in a cohort yearlong model:
Fall Spring English 115 English 116 PD 100 PD 114 COMM 103 What is UMOJA?
Umoja is a year-long learning community that focuses on university transfer and the
African American experience. A learning community is a link of two or more classes
that assist you with your college and transfer success. This is a ONE YEAR Commitment!
The two linked classes for fall semester are English 115 paired with Personal Development
100. Followed up with English 116 paired with Personal Development 114 during the
spring semester.
UMOJA Welcomes Everyone
UMOJA is open to all students and is designed to assist students to learn college and life skills. This will prepare our scholars for transfer success!
Benefits to Students
- Make lifelong friends
- Learn in a supportive environment
- Are recognized as leaders and scholars
- Visit college campuses
- Succeed academically
- Gain appreciation for one's cultural identity
- Explore issues minority students face in college
- Explore and learn more about the African-American experience
- Priority Counseling
- Participate in culturally-enriching activities
- Make university contacts
- Learn strategies for success in college and in life
- Priority Registration
- Caring Scholars and Professors
- Create a successful transfer plan
- Become part of the college community
UMOJA Mission Statement
Our mission is to increase the number of African-American students transferring to four-year colleges and universities! We thrive to assist Umoja Scholars to gain a better understanding of their identity in order to foster a stronger sense of navigating through higher education in the pursuit of college transfer achievement and lifelong success!
Student Empowerment
The Umoja Community fosters civic engagement so that all participants, students and educators alike, integrate learning and service. (add umoja club social justice, conferences)
Culturally Responsive Practices
We provide support and resources to help educators and counselors guide their students from A to Z.
Transfer Readiness
Umoja community programs have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving the retention and success of African American students. Umoja students embark on multiple transfer tours such as the Historically Black College Tour, campus trips to UCLA, UCSD, UC Riverside and other Umoja affiliated campus trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take one of the two classes only?
No. You must be enrolled in both courses. - Are these classes transferrable?
Yes. All coursework are UC and CSU transfer credits. - Are there any prerequisites?
Yes. English 116 requires English 115 and reading proficiency or a passing grade in Reading 158.
UMOJA Events
- Beginning of the Semester Retreat
- College Visits: SDSU, UCSD and USD
- Community Events
- Special Guest Speaker Series
Interested? Complete the Eligibility Application or Come to the SWC Counseling Center and ask to meet with our Umoja Counselor. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Center, or call (619) 421-6700 x5240.