The UMass Dartmouth Learning Commons (LC) Planning Committee will develop plans for the services, technology, resources, and space for the LC on the first and second floors of the Claire T. Carney Library. The LC will be an interdisciplinary collaborative learning space that will provide seamless access to resources, technology, and people to support teaching, learning, and research. The LC will advance the University mission to be “actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research” and will help to fulfill the University’s vision of “providing a personalized academic environment where the scholarly research and creative activities of faculty and graduate students are interwoven with the undergraduate experience.” It will also advance the vision of providing “enhanced technological capabilities for the delivery of our educational and outreach programs.” As an integrated environment that fosters engagement, collaboration, and discovery, the LC will meet the changing and emerging needs of teaching, learning, and scholarship at UMass Dartmouth.

The Committee will consider the following questions:

• What are the learning styles and preferences of today’s high school and college students and faculty?
• What type of environment will foster learning at UMass Dartmouth, given changing learning styles and preferences?
• What staffing, technology, and space are necessary to create this environment?
• What LC programs would foster this environment?
• Should the scope of the LC include faculty and staff learning?
• Which campus units might be involved, and how might they work together?
• Is it necessary for these campus units to be physically located in the same space to be effective together?
• What kinds of hardware, software, and seating configurations are needed?
• What staffing is needed in terms of qualification, and abilities?
• What are the issues in accomplishing the ideal LC environment for UMass Dartmouth?
• How can these issues be resolved?
• How should we measure the LC’s success?