By design, the First Year Seminar Program actively involves students in learning as envisioned by a liberal arts education at the start of their undergraduate career and serves as the cornerstone of the advising system.
The first year seminar itself is a 4-credit course taught by a member of the College faculty.When registering for the first semester of the first year, incoming first year students select five seminars from those that are to be offered in that academic year and are assigned to one of their choices. Enrollment is limited to 16 students, thereby ensuring that each student experiences a small class environment that allows for the examination of an academic area in a way that encourages students to think critically and analytically. Writing and oral skills are further enhanced. Three one-hour computer training labs are associated with each seminar so that students may learn how to use the computer package that is given to each first year student.
The instructor of the First Year Seminar serves as the student's advisor until the student has declared a major, which generally occurs before pre-registration for the fall semester of the junior year. In addition to the counseling offered by the first year seminar advisor and the major advisor, students have the opportunity to engage in other educational mentoring relationships through:
- independent studies
- internships
- academic assistantships
- the honors program
- advising by the pre-law advisor, pre-medical advisor, or EOS counselor if the student is a part of the EOS program
- faculty in areas of mutual interest
- the teacher certification program
Students are also welcome to discuss any questions they may have about their program of study with the Dean of Educational and Student Affairs. This office also coordinates accommodations for disabled students and is available to work with students who may be experiencing academic difficulty.
