Learning communities bring together small groups of college students who take two or more linked courses together--typically as a cohort. During the last few decades, many colleges and universities have started or expanded learning communities as a method to deliver curricula to students and forge closer bonds between students, among students and faculty, and between students and the institution. The learning community "movement" has grown in large part because of the leadership and advocacy of the Washington Center for Undergraduate Education at Evergreen State College. What exactly is a learning community? This document describes learning communities and the potential payoff of learning communities. [In addition to the author, Derek V. Price, research support provided from Malisa Lee.] (Contains 2 tables.)