Learning Through Dialogue Community

We are very excited to welcome you to campus and have been working hard to make necessary adjustments to your Learning Community experience in order to meet the guidelines put forth by health officials and the university. With lessons learned though the 2020-21 academic year and potential announcements made related to adjustments for Fall 2021, we want you to know that Learning Communities are committed to fostering a great experience for our students.
One modification to your Learning Community experience relates to designated housing that may have been previously communicated through the application process or marketing materials. University Housing continues to follow the direction of the university and local health officials to determine the best way to move forward with assignments. Normally, Learning Community students are required to live in designated floors within specific residence halls; however, given the direction University Housing must take in keeping student’s health and safety a priority, we are unable to guarantee students will be assigned to a specific hall. Regardless of where a student is assigned within housing, they will still be able to participate in the Learning Community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall. The campus continues to learn and evolve from this year and looking ahead to the coming fall, in partnership with other residential learning communities and University Housing, we are committed to providing experiential components that will positively contribute to your CSU experience.
Finally, more information from your Learning Community will be sent to students regarding any orientation dates and other requirements.
For latest information, you can also check: https://covid.colostate.edu/ If you have specific questions about your residence hall application you can also contact University Housing by by phone at 970.491.4719 or email at housing@colostate.edu.
Please contact your Learning Community for more specific information.
The Learning Through Dialogue Community is an exciting new opportunity for CSU students and will launch starting Fall 2021.
The Learning Through Dialogue (LTD) Community brings together students of diverse identities and backgrounds to engage in dialogues, connect, and learn across differences. Students in LTD will build relationships, skills, awareness, and knowledge that prepare them to engage and take action for inclusion and social change on campus and beyond.
Participation in this community is application based. Students who are accepted will co-enroll in 2-3 classes with other LTD students, live together in Durward Hall*, and take part in various service-learning, social, and educational opportunities.
* Normally, Learning Community students are required to live in designated floors within specific residence halls; however, given the direction University Housing must take in keeping student’s health and safety a priority, we are unable to guarantee students will be assigned to a specific hall. Regardless of where a student is assigned within housing, they will still be able to participate in the Learning Community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall.
What is LTD?
The Learning through Dialogue learning community incorporates elements of intergroup dialogue in its curriculum. This community fosters awareness, relationships, and understanding both within and beyond the classroom setting. Students will become more aware of their own identities and values as well as others’, and will gain skills needed to communicate and cooperate across diverse groups. This is the community for you if you will be living on campus and have the desire to learn, live, and dialogue with others!
Community requirements
Required courses
There are 3 required courses for the Learning Through Dialogue community: A fall LTD seminar, a spring LTD seminar, and a section of Composition 150.
1) Fall LTD Seminar. 2 credits. Open to LTD community members only. In this course, students will learn foundations and skills for dialogue. The course will be highly interactive and use activities and dialogues to help students learn about diversity and systems of inequality in society
2) Spring LTD Seminar. 2 credits. Open to LTD community members only. In this course, students will build on the Fall seminar, moving from awareness & understanding to action. Students will learn how to facilitate dialogues and lead change on campus.
3) Composition 150: All LTD students who have not tested out of Composition 150 will enroll in sections of CO150 dedicated for LTD students.
● Composition 150 is an AUCC and will help move LTD students towards completing graduation requirements. This course will specifically enhance and complement your experience in the Learning Through Dialogue community because it incorporates dialogue and dialogic teaching/learning strategies into its curriculum.
Move-in and Orientation
All LTD students are required to move in one day before the regular move-in date to participate in the required Community Orientation & Retreat together.
For Fall 2021, LTD students will move in before classes start.
Who can apply
Any undergraduate degree-seeking CSU student in any major who has an interest in learning across differences and developing their dialogue skills to make a difference for the betterment of their community.
Contact us:
If you have any questions, please reach out to the LTD community coordinators:
Laxmi Shastry
Laxmi.Shastry@colostate.edu
Coordinator for Intergroup Relations
970-491-8854
Mitchell Holston
Mitchell.Holston@colostate.edu
Assistant Director for Inclusion and Student Engagement
970-491-4712