A community for the recipients of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarships, the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TSLC) is designed to enhance the learning and living experience of UNK Students who have been awarded a scholarship by the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. The learning community affords the scholars additional academic support from a faculty director and peer mentors, alongside all of the exceptional resources provided through the UNK campus for student success.  It was initiated in 2008 with the involvement of almost 50 Scholars; a group of 65 new recipients of the Buffett Foundation Scholarships will join the community in 2009-10.

The Thompson Scholars Learning Community is a shared living, learning, and mentorship experience for students who received the Susan Thompson Buffett Scholarship at the three University of Nebraska campuses.  The Buffett Foundation selected the William H. Thompson Scholars as scholarship recipients, and the Thompson Scholars Learning Community will work to further support the Thompson Scholars during their academic career at UNK.

The Thompson Scholars Learning Community Freshmen are housed together at UNK. The experience of living and learning together will provide Scholars the ability to build new relationships and lasting memories outside of academic courses.  Mentors will also live in the residence hall as part of the Thompson Scholars Learning Community.  The mentors are upper class students who have experience living and learning at UNK, who will serve as resources for the learning community members.  Mentors will play a very integral support role in giving academic advice, connecting scholars to many UNK  resources, and building relationships.  Special programs will also be presented for the learning community members in addition to other events put on through the UNK campus. 

Freshman scholars in the Thompson Learning Community will take one class together in the Fall and Spring semesters of their first year.  Additionally, freshman scholars will be provided with the opportunity to receive undergraduate research stipends to do scholarly studies with outstanding UNK faculty members during their first academic year.  Subsequently, they will take other coordinated coursework during their sophomore year. In sharing academic experiences, the Thompson Scholars have the opportunity to develop intellectually with one another.  Academic learning communities have shown to  increase student academic achievement, involvement, motivation, and graduation rates.  Ultimately, by sharing academic pursuits, students are more able to connect their academic coursework to their personal lives, providing for a more meaningful college experience.  Future Scholars will be co-enrolled in one course per semester their freshman and sophomore years to enhance their education, as well as receive an opportunity of undergraduate research. 

The Thompson Scholars include a number of UNK Sophomores, Juniors and  Seniors who are not required to live in the  residence halls or take a class with the Scholars due to being farther ahead in their program of study.  However, these Scholars will be invited to participate in all programming opportunities the learning community provides this academic year, will be assigned a mentor to be of assistance throughout the academic year, and may be eligible to apply to participate in an undergraduate research project, contingent on available funding.

Click Here for the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Website  

Thompson Scholars Learning Community Staff

 

The Thompson Scholars Learning Community Faculty Director and Program Coordinator serve the Scholars by setting up the Scholars’ classes with UNK faculty, organizing additional programming, supervising the mentoring process, overseeing their research projects, and providing additional support and resources as the students progress towards their degrees. 

Dr. Robert Luscher, Faculty Director I’m a native of San Diego, CA, where I grew up enjoying the even but seasonless climate of southern California.  I earned my B.A. in Literature from the University of California at San Diego before heading to graduate school at Duke University in Durham, NC, where I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in English while experiencing all four seasons for the first time.  My first teaching job was at LSU in Baton Rouge, followed by nine years at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, where I served as Honors Program Director and English Department Chair and taught in Catawba’s Freshman Program. Click here  for more

Jennifer Harvey, Program Coordinator I grew up in Minden, NE before coming to UNK to get my undergraduate degree in teaching; I was the first member of my family to attend a four-year college.  I graduated from UNK with my Bachelor’s of Arts in Education, with endorsements in English and Social Science.  I taught high school social studies, English and journalism at Gothenburg High School and Pleasanton High School.  I then returned to UNK to get my Master’s Degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, which I completed in 2005. Click here  for more

Thompson Scholars Learning Community Mentors

All Thompson Scholars will be assigned to one of the five Thompson Scholars Learning Community Mentors for the academic year.  The mentors meet with each Thompson Scholar regularly to be sure that they have the resources they need, that they have their questions answered, and that are getting the most out of their experience at UNK.  Students meet their assigned mentor at the Welcome Weekend BBQ at the start of the Fall semester.  Click here to see the Thompson Scholars Learning Community Mentors

Thompson Scholars Learning Community Activities 

Click here to see upcoming and annual Thompson Scholars Activities

 For Current Thompson Scholars: Where do I send my grades or ask further scholarship questions?
You may email your grades and questions to scholarships@nebraska.edu.  Make sure to include your name and which campus you are attending.

The Thompson Scholars Learning Community is sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. 

Questions and Answers about the Thompson Scholars Research Project for students 

Review of TSLC Research Program for Potential Faculty Mentors 

Project Description: Requires mentor signature/ return to Dr. Luscher 

For more information, about the UNK Thompson Scholars Program, 

 please contact Dr. Robert M. Luscher, Faculty Director, at luscherr@unk.edu or (308) 865-8115 

or Mrs. Jennifer Harvey, Program Coordinator, at harveyjj@unk.edu (308) 865-8364

Helpful links: 

UNL Thompson Scholars Learning Community 

UNO Thompson Scholars Learning Community 

Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Website 

Financial Aid 

Admissions

Academic Success 

Office of Graduate Studies and Research: Undergraduate Research