The faculty team does collaborative planning to ensure that connections are built around the themes. The team also meets regularly throughout the term to discuss how the learning cluster is progressing. In this model, a cohort of students enrolls in 3 existing courses linked together around pre-major topics. Courses are thematically related but autonomous. Each cohort registers for all 3 courses and travels as a subset to larger classes.
Discrete credit is awarded for each course.
Students are also asked to meet weekly with a more advanced student who acts as peer advisor. This model gives freshman a peer support system for their experience in a large college setting. Faculty do not plan together or coordinate activities. Course content and process follow traditional guidelines. The Freshman Interest Groups are built around a theme.