Without the support of the college, university or school, the members of professional learning communities are likely to work in isolation. The following are ways to ensure the creation of a solid foundation that will enable success in a learning community. For more information on each of the five topics below, click on the title.

• Environmental Scan: Investigate the culture at the institution. Do learning communities exist already? Is there a support system in place? Where might you seek help and support on your campus: A Teaching and Learning Center? The Dean of a Department? Provost? Faculty? Other institutions in the region?
• The Right People and Collaborative Leadership: Converse with others around campus about being in a learning community. Is there interest? Can you find people with similar goals or interests to join your learning community? Remember that membership is voluntary and that this is not a committee.

• Essential Resources: Surf this website and others to learn more about the learning community concept. View current and past learning communities' goals to see if you might collaborate or build off of past work.
  
• Attending to Process: Learning Communities are both outcome and process focused. They are anti-hierarchical, a place of safety and trust, and members will reap both intrinsic and external rewards.
  
• The Plan: Align the learning community's goals or mission with those already in place at the institution/organization.