September 20, 2012
K-State First invites first-year seminar, learning community proposals
The university's first-year experience program, K-State First, is looking for faculty and departments who would like to offer first-year seminars for the 2013-2014 school year.
The first-year seminars classes are smaller versions of regular, lower-level classes and they enroll first-year students only.
Departments offering first-year seminars classes are provided compensation to help cover the costs associated with offering small classes taught by exceptional faculty. More information about the first-year seminar program can be found at www.k-state.edu/fys/.
K-State First is also looking faculty with interdisciplinary interests to teach in the connecting across topics communities program.
These learning communities pair two regular lower-level courses. A cohort of 22 students enrolls in both classes, but the students also meet once a week in a one-hour connections course taught by an instructor from one of the two larger courses. The smaller, one-hour class is a place for the students to dive into some active learning and to explore the connections between the two regular classes.
Faculty members who teach the one-hour connections class receive a $1,500 stipend typically taken as professional development funds and the support of an undergraduate learning assistant for the semester. More information about the program and examples of current connecting across topics communities are available online at www.k-state.edu/cat/.
If department heads or faculty members are interested in participating or have questions, they should contact Greg Eiselein at eiselei@k-state.edu or 785-532-0386 or Emily Lehning at lehning@k-state.edu or 785-532-6327 by Friday, Oct. 19.