The Learning Commons: An Overview

“Supporting Learning in a Personalized Connected Community”

The Sheldon L. Fountain Learning Commons supports and provides opportunities to enrich teaching and learning, international education, and community engagement. The Learning Commons provides a personalized response to self-defined needs of students, staff, faculty, and community; fosters connections among people and resources within Acadia; and recognizes, promotes, and celebrates Acadia’s partnerships with local, regional, and global communities.

Goals:

• to serve as a resource for course and programming redesign, development, and scholarship on an individualised basis;
• to break down barriers and create a comfortable forum for collaboration between faculty members, students, and members of the greater university community;
• to support collaborative activities related to pedagogy and community partnerships;
• to offer personalised academic services and support for students, staff and faculty;
• to connect efforts and initiatives among the different sectors of campus related to intellectual enrichment for all students;
• to promote and coordinate student-, staff- and faculty-driven learning initiatives    involving local, regional, and international communities;
• to promote personal access to the reciprocal possibilities offered by the international educational experience;
• to stimulate the development of a global, intercultural dimension into the spirit, life, and educational functions of Acadia University;
• to facilitate and celebrate the multicultural dimensions of the Acadia experience with the goal of preparing our shared communities for the challenges of global citizenship;
• to provide information, education and support to develop and implement community-based learning experiences which empower students to serve as contributing members of both the university and larger communities;
• to increase dialogue within and beyond the Acadia community in order to foster greater appreciation for, and access to one another’s assets, resources, and learning opportunities;
• to serve as an avenue through which Acadia and the greater community can collaborate in joint projects and initiatives.

Student Impact

Students understand the need to invest in their future and want to ensure their university education provides them with the very best opportunities to build rewarding professional and personal lives. Acadia remains committed to focusing on our students and to providing them with a truly unique education; one that challenges them, excites them, prepares them to be lifelong learners, and guides them to become leaders in their community.

Faculty Commitment

Our engaged and dedicated faculty will be active members of the Fountain Learning Commons, leading many initiatives to help our students learn and develop their futures. Our faculty members have a tremendous passion for education, for students, and for Acadia. The Fountain Commons will provide them with more opportunities and support to be creative, to explore, and to continue to build a scholarly community both inside and outside the classroom.

Alumni and Community Recognition

Acadia's students, faculty and staff recognize the importance alumni and the community play in our success as an institution. Thanks to the lead gift from the Associated Alumni of Acadia University, The Fountain Learning Commons will increase collaboration with the community for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, alumni, local communities, and society as a whole.