Rich VeitJudy Nye

Laura Jannone

Why a New First-Year SeminarFirst-year seminars are offered at more than

95% of American colleges and universitiesThey have a significant impact on retention

ratesThey led to more meaningful student-faculty

interactionsThey lead to better student performance and

higher gradesThey lead to more student engagement

The First-Year Seminar: Then and Now

ThenOne-Credit ExperienceOptional CourseFocus on Transition to

College

NowThree-Credit ExperienceRequired CourseFocus on Academic

Content, Transition to College, and Ethics

Rationale for the CourseAddress the Ethics Learning GoalAddress the Transition to CollegeEncourage Meaningful Contact with FacultySocialize Students into Academic CultureShare Your Passion About Your Discipline

Our HopesChallenging Courses on Interesting CoursesCourses that are Clearly Different than High

School CoursesCourses Taught by Engaging and Caring

Faculty

FYS OutcomesThe First Year Seminar’s primary purposes are to

stimulate our students’ academic curiosity and serve as a foundation for their transition into the intellectual life of the university. This course will allow professors to engage students in scholarly inquiry founded within the faculty member’s interests and expertise but not necessarily limited by disciplinary boundaries nor content requirements. Similar to the model currently used for perspectives courses, faculty will have the opportunity to teach a variety of academic topics while addressing important issues for first-year students. Thus, each First Year Seminar will address a common set of three components: Academic, Ethics, and Transition.

Outcomes for the Academic Component of the First Year Seminar Students will demonstrate critical thinking as

they actively engage in course material.

Students will be able to seek out, evaluate and integrate information from multiple sources based on a course topic.

 

Outcomes for the Ethics Component of the First Year SeminarStudents will demonstrate awareness of

ethical debates pertaining to the course topic.

Students will demonstrate awareness of ethical considerations of academic life.

Outcomes for the Transition Component of the First Year Seminar Students will articulate and evaluate their experience

with college resources (such as but not necessarily limited to one academic and one non academic resource).

Students will demonstrate strategies for improving academic skills (such as but not necessarily limited to time management, stress management, and study skills).

Students will demonstrate an understanding of academic culture and its norms, values, and practices, including the differences between college and high school intellectual activity and work.

 

General ResourcesFreshman Seminar: Info, Resources, Skills, &

Training (FIRST)First Year at Monmouth Resource Library

Resources for TransitionsInstructor Training in May“How is College Different from High School?”Guest Speaker Database

Resources for Ethics and Critical ThinkingOnline ResourcesPrint Resources

Web SeminarsOffered every semesterNext Month:

April 2: E-learning Study Skills: Keeping yourself and your students ahead of the curve!

April 7: Fired Up or Burned Out? Teaching Strategies to Help First-Year Seminar Instructors Rekindle Their Enthusiasm

Peer AdvisorsAssist you with your class and help your

students adjust to campus lifeSophomores, juniors, seniors who have taken

the course or are active leaders on campusAssist a variety of ways; it's up to you and

your Peer Advisor to find how you will best complement one another

Recommend a student or select from a pool of qualified students

Peer AdvisorsLiaison between students and professorRole model for studentsTeaching assistantPaid hourly

Approval ProcessFaculty ActivitiesFeb 2009 -Working groups begin to receive

syllabi for their review to see of courses meet the approved learning outcomes, working group recommendations to be sent GEOC

May 2009- New & revised syllabi presented @ Undergraduate Studies Committee by academic departments following the approval by GEOC

Nov 2009- course schedule for summer 2010, fall 2010 & spring 2011 completed