via Email | Susan Kattwinkel & Kay Smith | August 20, 2007
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Dear Faculty,
As you know, the new First Year Experience Program was proposed and approved as our Quality Enhancement Plan in our recent SACS reaccreditations process. It was also subsequently approved by the Faculty Senate as part of the new General Education initiative on March 13, 2007. This year (’07-’08), we are offering 13 prototype learning communities. We are very excited about the diversity of the linked courses for this year, the enthusiasm of the faculty and peer facilitators, and the positive reception by entering students. Next year we will begin offering first year seminars as well as continuing to develop learning communities. We invite you to propose new learning communities and first year seminars for 08-’09.
The First Year Experience Program is designed to help students ‘go further faster’ in their intellectual development at the College. Studies indicate that students set patterns of engagement, time-on-task, and commitment to the educational process in their first year and that they rarely deviate from these patterns once they are established. If we challenge students intellectually when they begin their college experience with us, we can expect that they will start off at a higher level of engagement and maintain that level throughout their subsequent studies. The First Year Experience will provide that challenge and combine it with a level of support that will enable students to channel their time and efforts toward things that will matter to their learning.
Attached are application information and forms to propose both first year seminars and learning communities. We realize that the start of the semester is a very busy time for everyone and we have simplified the application process as much as possible. We will be holding informational sessions for faculty interested in applying (roster faculty for the first year seminars, roster and adjuncts for the learning communities) and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this exciting new initiative at the College.
All proposals should be sent to the Director of the First Year Experience at the address below.
Sincerely,
Susan Kattwinkel
Director, First Year Experience
183 Lightsey Center Annex
College of Charleston
kattwinkels@cofc.edu
(843) 953-8218
(843) 953-5800 (fax)
Kay Smith
AVP/Academic Experience
smithkh@cofc.edu
Phone: (843) 953-7402
Fax: (843) 953-1934