Expectations for Courses

Course Approval

During the approval process, the FYS Task Force will look for the following:

• Are the title and description comprehensible and attractive to incoming students?
• Does the proposal adequately address each of the course goals, including the theme of "the greater good"?
• Does the proposal adequately address each of the student learning outcomes?

 

Course Design

As you design your course, be sure to consult the FYS Syllabus Checklist, which includes the Goals and SLOs.

While each instructor is free to design the course assignments, CORE 100 seminars should fit certain design expectations:

• Seminar format with the focus on student discussion and interaction, rather than a lecture format.
• Argument based and/or research based writing assignments totaling around 15 pages, and ideally no more than 20 pages (or the equivalent in alternative projects).
  • Keep in mind that the course is not a writing intensive course, and many students will not have completed their composition courses, ENGL 101 or 115.
  • We strongly encourage other forms of writing assignments that would not count toward the 15 pages, e.g., reflective papers, short response papers, journaling, blogging, or creative forms of writing. For instance, after completing an argument based writing assignment students might write a reflective paper about their research and writing process, or students might keep a journal about their personal responses to the readings or class discussions.
• Challenging texts as the heart of the course, of an amount and nature that may challenge students' expectations but does not overwhelm their ability to process and discuss the material. More on selecting challenging texts. 
• Classroom climate and policies that set a high bar for student expectations and define student success, yet meet students where they are as first-year students.
  • Attendance policies, for instance, can be used as a tool to acknowledge students' choices as adults and to help you communicate to them that you are concerned when they miss class.
  • Low-stakes assignments with feedback can encourage students to take intellectual risks, explore, and experience setbacks and frustration so that they develop grit and resilience.

Course Assessment

Instructors are expected to provide course materials for the assessment of the FYS program, so that it remains strong over time. These materials may include:

• Course syllabi
• Assignment instructions
• Graded assignments (particularly ones saved via Canvas)

Updated: August 23, 2018