Freshman Seminar Information for Faculty

ABOUT FRESHMAN SEMINARS

Freshman seminars introduce students to the intellectual life of the University and to the adventure of learning at the collegiate level. The seminars provide an opportunity for freshmen to gain early exposure to high interest areas, selected and taught by faculty at Michigan State University. Through freshman seminars, first-year students are able to study a topic focusing on their discovery of new disciplines, ideas, and research along with other interested students and a faculty member teaching out of his or her passion.

WHAT ARE FRESHMAN SEMINARS? AND WHY SHOULD I TEACH ONE?

Freshman seminars are intended to be small, engaging courses that introduce first year students to the intellectual life of the University. Imagine being able to inspire new students at the very beginning of their academic journey by expanding their perspectives on learning and inquiry. Imagine challenging their assumptions, encouraging inquisitiveness, and helping them understand what it means to be a scholar on a topic you have a passion for, but perhaps normally don’t have the opportunity to teach.

Freshman seminars offer faculty members the opportunity to experiment with ideas and design a seminar on a topic of interest. You might choose a topic related to your current research or simply one of interest that you’ve always wanted to explore. Your investment of time could advance your intellectual pursuits, while stimulating new students in their development as learners as they share in your enthusiasm for your work.

WHY FRESHMEN?

The first year experience of college students is a critical time in their development as learners. Research consistently shows that the investments we make in the students’ first year provide measurable differences in their classroom engagement and retention to graduation. Through the small seminar format, first year students are able to engage with faculty on a more conversational level and learn how to learn early in their career from some of the best minds on campus.

By working with a faculty member or other MSU scholar, first year students are able to see learning and leadership in action, as faculty and other scholars demonstrate what it means to be able to perceive and develop opportunities, foster and guide change, and apply skills and knowledge to understand and articulate complex issues of work, community, and public life in domestic and global settings. Freshman seminars can provide a positive first step in the student’s progress toward MSUs liberal learning outcomes.

HOW MUCH TIME WILL TEACHING A SEMINAR TAKE?

On campus seminars offered under UGS 101 are worth one academic credit and require a minimum of 14 instructional contact hours. You choose the day, time and location preference for your seminar, and have the option to offer it on a 7, 10 or 15 week model.

If you choose to teach a freshman seminar abroad or away, the seminars are offered as a trans-semester course with an intensive travel/experiential component that occurs in July/early August and requires two follow up sessions on campus prior to the middle of fall semester. Freshman seminars abroad (UGS 102) require a minimum of 28 instructional contact hours. Freshman seminars away (UGS 103) may be offered on a 1 or 2 credit option and require 14 or 28 instructional hours respectively.

Of course instructional hours don’t tell the whole story. You should factor in preparation, office hours, and grading time into your commitment.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

The Office of the Provost provides $20/head for instructional support for each freshman seminar. In addition, Dr. Linda Gross or Mr. James Lucas are available for consultation as needed as you design and develop your seminar For those teaching freshman seminars abroad or away, full travel support is provided and opportunities exist to adjust your personal travel prior to or after the program.

DOES MY UNIT GET CREDIT FOR THE SEMINAR?

Each year hundreds of students benefit from this experience, due to the generosity of committed faculty. The UGS 101, 102 and 103 freshman seminars are taught on a volunteer basis by faculty, with SCH (student credit hour) production reverting back to his or her unit. Some colleges, departments and specialization areas may find freshman seminars a great way to enhance student engagement in their programs.

HOW ARE FRESHMAN SEMINARS EVALUATED?

Freshman seminars are evaluated via online SIRS-SOCT forms. As always, instructors may ask the student to respond to a custom evaluation.

SEMINARS ON-CAMPUS, ABROAD, AND AWAY

There are a variety of freshman seminar models designed to provide a diverse set of learning opportunities for first-year students. While most freshman seminars are offered on-campus during the academic year (UGS 101), freshman seminar abroad/away programs (UGS 102/103) help students integrate academic inquiry with real world applications in domestic and international settings. These seminars are designed to provoke a deeper cognition of engaged scholarship, intercultural learning, field research, service and citizenry. Intensive and experiential in nature, students gain unique insights by learning in contexts that challenge their perspectives beyond the classroom and facilitate foundations for liberal learning outcomes.

SEMINAR COURSE NUMBERS AND FORMATS

UGS 101 - FRESHMAN SEMINAR

A one credit seminar offered in the fall or spring semester of the freshman year on special disciplinary-based topics selected by volunteer faculty as an introduction to scholarship and inquiry. The duration of the seminar can vary, but are usually taught on a 7 week, 10 week, or 15 week model for a total of 14 instructional hours. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Graded on a P/N basis. To propose a UGS 101 seminar click here.

UGS 102 - FRESHMAN SEMINAR ABROAD

A two credit seminar coded as a fall semester course, introducing students to scholarship and inquiry in international contexts. The seminar features an intensive 7-16 day study abroad experience in July/August prior to the start of the students’ freshman year, on disciplinary-based topics selected by volunteer faculty focused to begin student development of intercultural abilities and deepen international understandings. The duration of the seminar includes the summer experience with follow up activities through the first half of fall semester for a total of 28 instructional hours. Enrollment limits set in consultation with faculty. Graded on a numeric scale. To propose a UGS 102 seminar click here.

UGS 103 - FRESHMAN SEMINAR AWAY

A one or two credit seminar coded as a fall semester course, scholarship and academic inquiry in an intensive experiential learning contexts within the U.S. The seminar is focused on disciplinary topics selected by volunteer faculty and features an intensive 5-10 day domestic site experience appropriate to the topic in July/August prior to the start of the student’s freshman year. The duration of the seminar includes the summer experience with follow up activities through the first half of fall semester for a total of 28 instructional hours. Enrollment limits set in consultation with faculty. Graded on a numeric scale. To propose a UGS 103 seminar click here.

UGS 101 SEMINAR PROPOSAL FORM

To propose a seminar, all you need do is complete the proposal form which may be downloaded here:

We encourage you to give your seminar a lively title and description to help foster student interest. Dr. Linda Gross is available for consultation as you put together your seminar ideas. Each proposal is reviewed promptly and the seminar is scheduled. You will be notified once your seminar has been processed in the University class schedule.

Proposal forms should be submitted to Linda Gross, Ph.D.
By email: grossL@msu.edu
By fax: 517-432-2069
By mail: 312 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

SCHEDULING PREFERENCES

You choose the day, time and location preference for your seminar, and have the option to offer it on a 7, 10 or 15 week model. Please follow the Registrar's Standard Class Meeting Times for your seminar.

SHORT SEMESTER SEMINARS

You have the option of offering your seminar in an abbreviated (non-standard) time period during the semester; however we must follow the Registrar’s policy for non-standard semester courses:

NON-STANDARD CONTACT HOURS

The required total contact hours is computed by multiplying the approved course contact hours by 14. If a course has a period of concentrated classroom time followed by an unscheduled paper/project preparation period, base the contact hour concentration calculation on the classroom period only. Courses meeting in non-standard time frames (less than a semester or half semester) MUST conform to the following credit hour/contact hours/session length minima:

1 credit
14 contact hours
3 class meeting days

BEGIN AND END DATES: (all semesters)
ONCE A CLASS HAS STARTED, THE END DATE WILL NOT BE CHANGED.

When the begin and/or end dates do not coincide with the official semester dates, federal financial aid regulations mandate that the dates submitted accurately reflect the actual beginning and end of student-faculty interaction. For instance, in sections that follow a concentrated organized classroom interaction with an unscheduled period during which term papers or projects are prepared, the begin date should reflect the first class meeting and the end date must reflect the due date of the final assignment. In the case of final examinations for non-standard scheduled seminars, the examination date should be scheduled as the end date for the seminar.

CREDITS AND GRADES

INSTRUCTORS WILL HAVE 5 DAYS AFTER THE END DATE OF THE SECTION TO SUBMIT GRADES VIA THE RO INSTRUCTOR SYSTEMS

UGS 101 courses are worth 1 credit and are graded P/N. Per federal guidelines grades must be submitted within 5 days of the end of the seminar. Note that seminars offered under an abbreviated time frame will have grades due within 5 days of the last scheduled class meeting or specified due date for final paper/project. Please keep this in mind when scheduling your course and determining final assignment due dates.

UGS 102, freshman seminars abroad, are worth 2 credits and are graded on the numeric scale. UGS 102 seminars are offered as a trans-semester course. The course will end officially on the middle of the semester date for fall semester. Instructors must have grades submitted within 5 days of the middle of the semester date.

UGS 103, freshman seminars away, are worth 1-2 credits and are graded on the numeric scale. UGS 103 seminars are offered as a trans-semester course. The course will end officially on the middle of the semester date for fall semester. Instructors must have grades submitted within 5 days of the middle of the semester date.

OVERRIDES

Overrides for UGS 101 courses may be requested by the instructor. Please forward the name and PID of the student you wish to grant an override to Sandra Walther, (517) 353-5380.

Important notes: Seminar enrollments are intended to be small (general enrollment limit is set at 20 students for UGS 101). Students cannot earn more than 2 credits in all enrollments of UGS 101, 102 &/or 103. Courses are intended for first year students with 30 credits or less.

PROPOSING A FRESHMAN SEMINAR ABROAD OR AWAY (UGS 102/103)

Proposals for a freshman seminar abroad or away must be underway at least one year in advance. If you are interested in offering a seminar abroad, please contact either Linda Gross or Jim Lucas for an informational discussion. Instructors regularly rotate through current program sites for freshman seminars abroad. Current freshman seminar away offerings:

  • Freshman seminars away click here.
  • Freshman seminars abroad click here.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
312 Administration Building
(517) 353-5380
(517) 432-2069 FAX

Linda Gross, Ph.D.
All Freshman Seminar Initiatives (UGS 101, 102, 103)
Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Faculty consultations
(517) 884-1350

Jim Lucas
Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Internationalizing the Student Experience
Freshman Seminars Abroad (UGS 102)
Faculty consultations
(517) 355-0171