About the Healthy Communities Initiative

Food Stamp Connections includes the programs listed above: Husky Nutrition, Husky Byte, Husky Reads, Husky Sport, and the Senior Nutrition Awareness Program. These outreach programs seek to provide educational opportunities about healthy food choices, food safety, and physical activity for Connecticut citizens needing assistance. There are also opportunities for students to register for credits and gain some practical experience working with people in community settings by delivering lessons about these topics under the supervision of professional staff.

The Public Health Learning Community (PHLC) began in Fall 2009 on the Storrs campus. Public health is a broad and dynamic field with a primary focus on prevention rather than treatment of disorders in populations. The scope of health is broad, encompassing physical, mental, social, and environmental conditions that affect humans. As such, numerous disciplines are involved to detect causes of ill health, translate scientific findings into practical interventions, and design and implement programs and policies that encourage preventive measures. Growth in the public health field is demonstrated at UConn where eleven of the twelve schools and colleges are now actively participating in The Public Health Initiative, managed by the Center for Public Health and Health Policy.

Learning communities have been shown to improve student transition to college, build a sense of community, increase retention, and enhance learning outcomes. These results are attained by an emphasis on active learning, integrated curriculums, and interpersonal collaboration. As students interested in Public Health are enrolled in numerous disciplines, PHLC residents will have the unique opportunity to collectively share academic and community experiences, rather than traveling separate and discrete scholastic paths.

The mission of the PHLC is to develop scholarly and socially involved students that value community wellness, cultural diversity, and civic responsibility through their active engagement in the learning process. Students will have the opportunity to:

• explore their self identity and assist in developing connections within local, national, and global communities;
• develop leadership skills, including critical thinking, communication, creative problem solving, self confidence and team work;
• increase their knowledge of human cultures as well as the ability and motivation to affect positive change in a culturally diverse and complex society;
• enhance academic success through retention and support in attaining mastery of written, oral, and mathematical literacy skills; and
• engage in the learning process through participation in community service.

The PHLC experience will focus on academics, service learning, and co-residency to achieve these goals. Residents will be enrolled in a 2-credit course each semester that will be integrated with a weekly community service experience (students will commit 4 hours one day per week). Course curriculum will include local, national, and international issues in public health. Less formalized activities will be offered through the residence hall to build on academic themes and encourage community, both among students and with program staff and professionals in the public health field. Ultimately, students will benefit through these multiple avenues designed to meet their personal, social, and academic objectives with a greater appreciation and understanding of public health needs and vocations.

Application – http://www.lc.uconn.edu/apply_now.htm

Do you have questions about the learning community?

Visit http://lc.uconn.edu or Email livelearn@uconn.edu or call (860) 486-1127