First-Year Seminar-General Info

Information Sheet / EPPC Motion and Discussion

INFORMATION SHEET FOR FACULTY ON THE FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR PROGRAM
Mary Garvin (Biology), Acting Director
First-Year Seminar Program Committee:
Adrian Bautista, Office of Dean of Students Pat Day, Professor of English and Cinema Studies Bob Geitz, Associate Professor of Computer Science Meredith Raimondo, Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies Lynne Biauchi, Associate Dean Charles McGuire, Associate Professor of Musicology Gina Perez, Associate Professor of Comparative American Studies Paula Richman, Professor of Religion
The Objectives of the First-Year Seminar Program (FYSP): In February 2000, the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences endorsed the creation of a program of seminars for first-year students offered throughout the curriculum. The aim of these seminars is to provide students with:
	a. skills necessary for critical thinking, writing, discussion
	b. an introduction to liberal arts learning
	c. an opportunity to earn WP or QP in a class with limited enrollment (14).

First-year seminars are meant to assist students in developing the intellectual and social skills necessary for making the most of their college education in a pedagogical environment targeted to their cognitive development and high school preparation. The particular foci of seminars, however, are unlimited and can go in whatever direction faculty interest and vision take them. One of the most interesting goals of the FYSP is to provide students with an introduction to liberal arts learning. There is no one way to introduce liberal arts learning, but the seminars are intended to help students reflect upon basic issues such as the personal value and social relevance of a liberal arts education and what it means to be a part of a liberal arts community of learning. For faculty, it is a chance to think about how the strands of knowledge of our fields intertwine with each other or how they relate to what students often describe as “the big picture.”

Curriculum Development Grants:

Curriculum development grants are intended to provide compensation to faculty interested in creating seminars for the Program. All full-time and part-time continuing members of the teaching faculty are eligible to apply for these grants. Grant applications are due on November 20, 2007 for seminars to be taught in Fall 2008 and Fall 2009. Please submit applications as Word files via electronic enclosures or in hard copy form to Mary Garvin , FYSP Acting Director, Science Center A139.

	New Course Grants will carry a stipend of $3,000* to develop one new course. Seminars must be taught at least 3 times over a 5-year period of active service. Seminars must be first taught in either Fall 2008 or Fall 2009 and during the Fall semester thereafter.
	Revised Course Grants will carry a stipend of $1,500* to retool an existing course to meet the objectives of the First-Year Seminar Program. Seminars must be taught at least 3 times over a 5-year period of active service. Seminars must be first taught in either Fall 2008 or Fall 2009 and during the Fall semester thereafter.

Those interested in developing interdisciplinary team-taught seminars are also encouraged to apply. Grant proposals will be evaluated by the First-Year Seminar Program Committee with special attention given to how the course achieves the objectives stated above. Recipients of grants will be expected to participate in course assessment activities and a summer workshop for training and to exchange ideas with other seminar instructors. Further information on the Program (including the FYSP Fellowship Application, the Motion & Discussion regarding FYSP brought to the faculty by EPPC) can be found at the FYSP website (www.oberlin.edu/fysfac).

*Curriculum development grants reflect gross compensation. All (employee’s and employer’s) FICA and TIAA-CREF contributions will be deducted from the amounts.

Site by: Andi Baruffi
Updated 10/12/07 by Robert Chester