UNIV 1000 (Sec 46)

First Year Seminar

Southern Utah University

Fall 2005

1 Credit

Dr. Earl Mulderink

Office Hours: T-R, 10-11:30; T, 5-6 PM; W, 1-2 PM

Wednesday, 2 PM, Eccles Center

mulderink@suu.edu

Centrum 225

435/865-8323

Course Description

The First Year Seminar connects students with faculty, staff, and other students and the university community. This First Year Seminar is designed to help launch students' university careers successfully and to equip students with the tools and abilities that will increase their career and academic skills. Students will also participate in civic engagement and attend convocations. Co-requisite: LM 1010.

Course Objectives

Students begin to understand the role and expectations of being a university student through:

Developing realistic and appropriate career/life/academic goals
Understanding the value of general education
Making connections with faculty, staff, other students and resources at Southern Utah University
Gaining an awareness of research skills and research agendas
Improving their skills in managing time, building relationships, thinking critically, making right choices, and dealing with stress
Strengthening writing skills
Becoming aware of the concepts of wellness
Enhancing all academic skills so they may succeed as a university student and in their lives and careers

Required Reading Assignments

Your course reading assignments require you to purchase, read, reflect and rely upon an excellent resource: Gardner and Jewler, Your College Experience, Strategies for Success, 6^th ed. (2005). Although you are not required to read the entire book for this class, you are encouraged to do so. In line with all sections of UNIV 1000, we will follow the standard course syllabus with few variations along the way. Please plan to read each week's assignment prior to our class meeting.

Assignments and Assessments

Students will maintain a portfolio that will be reviewed by your instructor. All assignments are required and should be submitted in a timely manner. No late papers or assignments will be accepted.

Journal With At Least One Entry per Week (confidential and non-graded)
Research Paper for Four Required Convocations
Short Paper and Exercise for the Challenge Course Initiative
Exercise Relating to Career and Academic Agenda(s)
Time Management Exercise
Exercise Regarding Basic Academic Skills
Critical Thinking Exercise
“Reading to Remember” Exercise
Written Paper on Strengths and Weaknesses of the First Year Experience
Additional or Alternative Assignments Are Possible

The grading scale is based on the following: A, 93-100; A-, 90-92; B+, 87-89; B, 83-86; B-, 80-82; C+, 77-79; C, 73-76; C-, 70-72; D+, 67-69; D, 63-66; D-, 60-62; F, 0-59.

Course Requirements

Please note that class attendance is expected, and active participation is encouraged. All written work submitted for this course (including emails and electronically-submitted assignments) should follow the standard rules of grammar, punctuation, and English usage. If you do not possess typing or word-processing skills, you are strongly encouraged to begin learning these skills while preparing your work for this course. For each assignment, try to write in your own words, but if you wish to quote from outside materials, simply place all quoted material in quotation marks and add a page reference in parentheses at the end of that sentence. Certainly, feel free to be imaginative but do try to adhere to each assignment’s requirements and guidelines. As always, you are expected to submit original and independent work, and students who plagiarize will be subjected to the most severe academic penalties.

Students should be aware of the following expectations and requirements:

All work requested by the instructor must be submitted
All work should be included in a course portfolio (binder or notebook)
All out-of-class activities must be attended and assignments completed
All course work must be completed to pass the course
80% or better attendance is required to pass the course

Please let me know of any individual concerns, problems, or questions. As always, your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Other Course Matters

Everyone is expected to arrive at class in a timely manner, and attendance is expected for all class sessions. If you plan to be absent, particularly in the case of serious illness, please try to inform your instructor in advance. Your instructor reserves the right to take attendance and to require additional work as needed.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.

STUDENT DISABILITY NOTICE

Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 205C of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

When In Doubt, Ask!

If you have questions about your progress in this class or remain unclear about course assignments or materials, please do not hesitate to ask. You have several ways to contact me at any time. First and most obviously, feel free to ask pertinent questions during the class periods or after classes. Or, if you wish, you can visit during my office hours in Centrum 225, or call me directly at 435/865-8323. We will find a convenient time to meet if you cannot visit during my office hours. If I am not available, please leave a message at the number above and I will return your call. Finally, I encourage you to communicate through email whenever possible; my email address is: mulderink@suu.edu

Fall 2005 University 1000 (Sec 24) Schedule Dr. Earl Mulderink

Week 1 Read YCE, Chapter 1

8/31 (W) Class Introductions; College Makes a Difference: Strategies for Success

Week 2 Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend! No Class This Week

9/7 (W) Do the “Scavenger Hunt” Exercise on Your Own Time

Week 3 Read YCE, Chapters 2 and 13

9/14 (W) No Class but Attend Convocation

Week 4 Read YCE, Chapter 5

9/21 (W) Time Management Exercise

Week 5 Challenge Course for Section B

9/28(W) Meet Near Challenge Course -- on Time!

Week 6 Read YCE, Chapter 6

10/5 (W) Critical Thinking Exercise

Week 7 No Class but Attend Convocation

10/12 (W)

Week 8 Read YCE, Chapter 12

10/19 (W) Basic Academic Skills

Week 9 Enjoy the “Harvest Holiday”! No Class This Week

10/26 (W) Exercise Relating to Career and Academic Agenda(s)