Western Michigan University FYE 2100: First-Year Seminar Fall Semester 2007 Faculty Facilitator: Richard McMullen Student Facilitator: Alex Kaiser Office Location: 2071 Moore Hall Office Phone: 269-387-2724 Phone: 734-652-3676 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Class Location: 1265 Schneider Hall Class Days/Time: Wednesdays, 11:00-12:15 PURPOSE OF THE COURSE The First-Year Seminar is a course designed for a student’s first semester at WMU. The seminar is intended to provide an intellectual and social transition into Western Michigan University under the guidance of a faculty/staff facilitator and an upper-class student facilitator. The First-Year Seminar addresses different educational criteria but primarily focuses on the habits of learning success. In addition, the seminar supplies information about campus resources and generally helps students feel connected to the University and the Kalamazoo community. FYS COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Students will make connections with WMU faculty, staff, student leaders and/or peers to facilitate success. 2. Students will demonstrate competency in accessing university resources and services. 3. Students will demonstrate responsible academic (knowledge) and social behaviors. 4. Students will develop an appreciation of diversity in the broadest sense. 5. Students will understand the requirements for earning a bachelor’s degree. 6. Students will examine personal interests and explore related WMU academic and career pathways. ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Both in compliance with and in the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we would like to work with you if you have a disability that is relevant to your work in this course. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact your faculty facilitator as soon as possible. You may also contact the Office of Disabled Student Resources and Services at 269-387-2116 (or at http://www.dsrs.wmich.edu). FYS SEMINAR REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS Required List 1) The Lakota Way, by Joseph Marshall, III, Penguin Group, 2001 2) Keys to Effective Learning: Developing Powerful Habits of Mind, 5th Edition by Carter, Bishop and Kravits, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008 Recommended List (all are available in WMU bookstore, libraries, or online) 1) WMU Student Handbook; 2) WMU Student Code of Conduct; and 3) WMU Undergraduate Catalog2 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY/MISCONDUCT POLICY (taken from the Professional Concerns Committee of the Faculty Senate) You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the WMU Undergraduate Catalog (page 7) that pertain to Academic Misconduct. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with your FYS faculty/staff facilitator if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test. FYS E-MAIL EXPECTATIONS E-Mail is an official means of communication from the University. You are required to use your WMU assigned e-mail account/address when submitting assignments or requesting assistance. It is your responsibility to check your WMU e-mail account regularly and open e-mails the University, FYE Programs or the FYS facilitators send. It is unacceptable to use the excuse of not receiving e-mail because you do not check your WMU account. PARTICIPATION POLICY AND EXPECTATIONS Class Participation Class participation and engagement are central to accomplishing the outcomes of this course. It is expected that students attend all FYS classes, co-curricular (out-of-class) activities, and class related events. Students should be prepared to complete/discuss related assignments. The FYS participation policy is that a student with more than two absences (excused or unexcused) will receive a deduction in the overall course grade (percentage of the deduction is at the discretion of the faculty/staff facilitator). The student is responsible for obtaining missed information. The student is responsible for coming to class, arriving on time, staying until the end, participating in class activities, and not engaging in other non-class activities (e.g., working on your laptop/computer, reading non-class material, doing job-related work, reading the newspaper, listening to headphones, talking on the phone or text messaging). If you arrive late or must leave early, please do so quietly and respectfully. CLASS ENVIRONMENT AND EXPECTATIONS Our hope is that each of us will actively engage in the learning process, as well as challenge and support each other to take risks. Expectations for each of you are:  that you complete all work in a timely fashion and with integrity;  that you bring your whole self to class each week;  that you participate actively and knowledgeably in class discussion;  and that you feel free to raise questions, challenge what we read and discuss (respectfully), and listen carefully (even when the perspectives shared are not consistent with your own belief systems). FYS Class Environment This course will have a seminar/workshop atmosphere. There will be high involvement in weekly activities and structured exercises, which include small group discussions, guest speakers, individual and group activities, projects, attending events or oral presentations. Active student participation is essential for individual and class success.3 What is Expected of Each Student  Avoid side conversations when others are speaking because this behavior is distracting & disrespectful.  Demonstrate a balance of verbal input and involved listening.  Demonstrate a willingness to understand & appreciate the material (remember, understanding does not equal agreement). 