Date Time Grassroots effort becomes ‘bedrock’ of Iowa State experience Alumni members of the former Women in Science and Engineering learning community reunited in Des Moines in 2019. From left, Nicole Oneyear, Justine Bormann, Rachel Pichelmann, Heidi Hassel, Ashley Cook and Maggie Jones. Alicia Ross, a member of WiSE though not the learning community, was not present for the photo. Photo provided by Heidi Hassel. AMES, Iowa — Twenty-five years after learning communities began at Iowa State University, they are now a thriving and integral part of the first-year student experience. And for the nearly 93000 students who have joined a learning community during that time, the relationships and connections made often extend beyond their college years.