September 24, 2013
K-State First invites faculty to propose first-year seminars, learning communities
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 2014-15 school year.
The first-year seminar classes are smaller versions of regular, lower-level classes, and they enroll first-year students only.
Departments offering first-year seminar classes receive 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 online.
K-State First is also looking faculty with interdisciplinary interests to teach in the Connecting Across Topics, or CAT, 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 and the support of an undergraduate learning assistant for the semester. More information about the program and examples of current communities are available online.
If department heads or faculty members are interested in participating or have questions, they should contact Greg Eiselein by Friday, Oct. 18, at eiselei@k-state.edu or 785-532-0386.