title: Enhancing Academic Success by Creating a Community of Learners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To enhance academic performance and student progression by creating a community of learners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic performance and student progression of students participating in the first 3 years of a second-year pharmacy learning community were compared with those of students in the 3 previous classes. Students participating in the learning community completed surveys at the end of each semester and at the end of the academic year. Peer mentors were surveyed at the end of the academic year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After implementing the learning community, failures during the second year of the pharmacy program decreased. Students had increasingly positive perceptions of the experience over the 3 years. Peer mentors rated their overall experience highly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of a learning community resulted in improved progression through the program and was well received by students.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berlie
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salinitri
authors.affiliation: Kroger Corporation, Texas.
authors.forename: Micah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCuistion
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slaughter
mesh_terms: D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D010379:Peer Group; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
keywords: academic success; learning community