NURSING SCHOLARS LEARNING COMMUNITY (NSLC)
A First-Year Learning Community
About
The Nursing Scholars Learning Community (NSLC) is a structured, cohort-based learning experience designed to support first-year pre-nursing students as they transition into the academic rigor, professional expectations, and ethical foundations of nursing prerequisite education.
Rooted in the mission and values of Norfolk State University, the NSLC integrates shared coursework, co-curricular engagement, faculty mentorship, and service-oriented learning to cultivate academic excellence, professional identity formation, and a strong sense of belonging.
The NSLC emphasizes holistic student development—academic, personal, and professional—while fostering resilience, accountability, leadership, and meaningful connection within a supportive learning environment. Through collaborative experiences and intentional support, students will begin developing the foundational skills necessary for success in nursing education and future healthcare careers.
Nursing Scholars Learning Community Goals
Participants in the Nursing Scholars Learning Community will:
- Build a strong sense of belonging and professional identity as pre-nursing students.
- Strengthen academic success in foundational pre-nursing coursework through structured support, mentoring, and skill development.
- Explore nursing career pathways, expectations, and professional standards within the healthcare field.
- Develop foundational skills in research, evidence-based practice, and professional communication.
- Engage in service-learning and community health experiences that support civic responsibility and patient-centered care.
- Build resilience, accountability, and study habits necessary for success in nursing education.
- Connect with faculty, advisors, peer mentors, and healthcare professionals who support persistence and progression into nursing programs.
Courses:
- Fall SEM 101
- Spring SEM 102
Requirements: Students who are interested must register for the Learning Communities sections of Spartan Seminar (SEM) 101 and 102. Participation in Nursing Scholars Learning Community events and activities, as well as scheduled co-curricular Learning Communities events and activities, is mandatory for those in the Nursing Scholars Learning Community.
Contact Information
Dr. Felisa Smith
Nursing and Allied Health
fasmith@nsu.edu
Dr. Rachel Vincitore
Learning Communities
revincitore@nsu.edu