Developing a First Year
Experience at a Research
University
Marilyn
Marilyn Kurata,
Kurata, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Director
Director of
of Core
Core Curriculum
Curriculum Enhancement
Enhancement
2011
2011 Annual
Annual FYE
FYE Conference
Conference
February
February 8,
8, 2011
2011
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UAB Profile
• Part of UA system with UA and UAH
• 17, 543 students
• 12% live on campus, including 65% of freshmen
• 2,067 FT faculty and 16,372 other work force
• Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Optometry, & Public Health
• College of Arts & Sciences and Schools of Business,
Engineering, Health Professions, & Nursing
• Highest Carnegie Foundation tier in both research activity and
community engagement categories
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Our First Year Experience
• Discussion Book program
• First Year Experience course
• Support Mechanisms
– Advising Curriculum
– Early Alert System
– Supplemental Instruction
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Discussion Books at UAB
2005 The Spirit Catches You & You Fall
Down
2006 The Kite Runner
2007 All Over but the Shoutin’
2008 Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man,
Nature, and Climate Change
2009 Mountains Beyond Mountains
2010 Outcasts United
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Discussion Book Success
Factors
• Presidential endorsement
• Faculty and staff-driven
• Link to undergraduate learning outcomes
• Range of support activities
• Community partnerships
• Assessment & feedback
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Discussion Book Impact
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
The First FYE Courses:
Freshman Learning
Communities
• LCNU 101
• EH 101
• PY 101
Body and Brain Power
Freshman Composition I
Intro to Psychology
• LCS 101
• EH 101
• SOC 100
Exploring Birmingham
Freshman Composition I
Intro to Sociology
•
•
•
•
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LCEG
EH 101
MA 125
CH 115/116
Accepting the Engineering Challenge
Freshman Composition I
Calculus
General Chemistry I and Lab
the university of alabama at
birmingham
Challenges
1. On- and off-campus unfamiliarity w/ FLCs
2. No student incentives
3. Changing student demographics
4. Competing departmental imperatives
5. Economic downturn
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
FYE Options Expanded
• Freshman Learning Communities
– Proposed by faculty
– Proposed by department or school
• Stand Alone FYE courses
– U101 The University Experience
– FYE developed by school or department
the university of alabama at
birmingham
How All FYE Options are Alike
• Training workshops for faculty
• Participation in Early Alert System
• Assessment via EBI First Year Initiative Survey
• Coverage of 10 mandated FYE topics
• 4 specific required assignments
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Mandated FYE Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Structure and Mission of UAB
Faculty Expectations and student responsibilities
Academic Policies, including the Academic Honor Code
Academic advising & career planning
Academic survival skills
Time management
Financial management
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Library research resources
Campus involvement opportunities
the university of alabama at
birmingham
How FYE Options Differ
• Number of credit hours & instructors
• Course format
• Course emphasis or focus
• Restricted or unrestricted enrollment
• Maximum enrollment
• Level of out-of-class engagement
• Effectiveness in achieving FYE objectives
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
FYI data on FYE Impact
-----
Course improved
Satisfaction with College or
University
-----
Course improved
Knowledge of Academic
Services
-----
Course improved
Knowledge of Campus
Policies
-----
Course improved
Managing Time & Priorities
-----
Course increased
Out-of-Class Engagement
the university of alabama at
birmingham
Lessons Learned
• Establish a FYE Coordinating Committee
• Require FYE faculty development workshops
• Collect and share assessment data
– to revise FYEs
– to improve faculty development
– to demonstrate effectiveness of FYEs
• Be flexible
• Be persistent
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the university of alabama at
birmingham
Contact Information
Marilyn Kurata, Ph.D.
Core Curriculum Enhancement
(205) 996-6420
[email protected]
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the university of alabama at
birmingham