Learning communities, freshman interest groups, or cluster classes are a relatively new trend on college and university campuses. In addition to improving freshman retention and performance, these courses create a bridge between the basic course and other courses. Learning communities are curricular structures that promote academic success by emphasizing student-student and student-faculty interaction and interdisciplinary linkage of courses. Themes around which the courses are structured are broad concepts usually selected by the participating faculty of the linked courses. Some learning communities have implemented peer advisors and incorporated some kind of social activity combined with learning. Some have a seminar for the students involved in the community. Promoting a basic course as an important component in the learning communities especially when team teaching is utilized is also a way of breaking the isolation experienced by many faculty members. Learning communities have the potential to decrease communication apprehension. They also make the transition to college less scary for many students by giving them peer advisors. Learning communities have been very effective nationwide in improving retention. (Contains 17 references.) (CR)