Formal learning communities try to restructure university curricula to combat structural barriers to excelling in education by emphasizing interactions between students, faculty, and staff.

The following are basic characteristics of learning communities:

1. Organizing students and faculty into smaller groups
2. Encouraging integration of the curriculum
3. Helping students establish academic and social support networks
4. Providing a setting for students to be socialized to the expectations of college
5. Bringing faculty together in more meaningful ways
6. Focusing faculty and students on learning outcomes
7. Providing a setting for community-based delivery of academic support programs