September 14, 2011
K-State First invites course proposals
The university's first-year experience program, K-State First, is looking for faculty with interdisciplinary interests to teach in the CAT - Connecting Across Topics - Communities program in fall 2012.
These learning communities for new students 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. More information about the program and examples of current CAT communities are available online at http://www.k-state.edu/first/cat.html.
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.
K-State First is also looking for faculty and departments who would like to offer first-year seminar versions of regular, lower-level classes. Departments offering first-year seminars may be 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 http://www.k-state.edu/fys/.
If department heads or faculty members are interested in participating or have questions, they should contact Greg Eiselein, eiselei@k-state.edu, 532-0386; or Emily Lehning, lehning@k-state.edu, 532-6327, by Friday, Oct. 28.