Department of Apparel, Educational Studies, and Hospitality Management

Common Threads Learning Community

What is Common Threads?

The Common Threads Learning Community consists of first year students enrolled in the undergraduate Textiles and Clothing program. Apparel Merchandising, Design and Production is the name of the major this group of students is pursuing. In bringing students together with one common thread between them, it is the goal of this learning community to provide students with a variety of academic and life experiences to enable students to weave their own masterpice, their life.

Common Threads is both a residential and a non-residential learning community. Each year 30 spaces are reserved for students who wish to participate in the residential component of Common Threads. Young House in Maple Hall is the home of hte residential component of Common Threads and a peer mentor is assigned to this group. Members of the non-residential component of Common Threads can live anywhere on campus.

Common Threads students will also have their transition eased as they will attend a common set of classes together. Knowing classmates from the start of the semester helps the student adjust to the academic rigor of college by forming immediate connections and friendships.

Photo of Common Threads Learning Community

Common Threads Classes

During the first semester, students in Common Threads will take TC 111 Professional Development for the Fashion Industry in special sections of 30 reserved for the residential and non-residential students in the learning community. If students are required to take English 150, the student will also take TC 165 Trend and Consumer Analysis as the two classes are linked. If students are not required to take English 150, students may select from either TC 165 or TC 131 Introduction to the Textiles and Apparel Industry. A formal linkage between English and a first year Textiles and Clothing class enables the student to enhance their learning experience by drawing upon content from one class to complete a process in another.

Common Threads Activities

In addition to the connections students make in class, the learning community employs peer mentors who arrange for academic and extracurricular activities to enhance the college experience. Peer mentors may arrange for a field trip, end of the semester gathering with faculty, a study session, or a project work session. Peer mentors also help with the required service learning component of TC 111 Professional Development for the Fashion Industry.

Photo of Learning Students in Class

How to sign up

Residential Component - Students interested in participating in the residential component of Common Threads by living on Young House in Maple Hall should designate this on their housing contract.

Non-residential Component - Students interested in participating in the non-residential component of Common Threads may complete the application and return it to the address listed below.

For more information, contact:

Christine Leiran Wise

Academic Advisor/Lecturer/Coordinator

1071B LeBaron Hall

Phone: 1-800-522-0683

Email: clwise@iastate.edu

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