First-Year Seminars - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ for First-Year Seminar Instructors

Who is responsible for finding a location for my seminar?

Because you are familiar with the classrooms in your building, and with the requirements of your seminar, we ask that you be responsible for reserving a location. Your office manager or the person in your department responsible for classroom space can assist you. When you have reserved a location, please call (2-0012) or e-mail (bcarlson {at} franklin dt uga dt edu {subj} Request+Information) Barbara Carlson with information about when and where your seminar will be.

Can I team teach my seminar, and if I do, who will get credit for it?

We encourage team-taught seminars. Departments of the participating faculty will share credit for the hours generated by the class. Faculty will share credit for having taught the seminar.

How do I propose a seminar, and when will I learn if the proposal has been accepted?

Send your proposal by campus or e-mail to Hugh Ruppersburg (hruppers {at} franklin dt uga dt edu) in the Dean's Office, or use the on-line proposal form. You will be contacted with information about your seminar well before the semester in which you wish to teach it.

How are seminars graded?

You may choose to teach your seminar using traditional grades (FRES 1020) or pass/fail grades (FRES 1010). The course number determines the grading format. Students often take their work in a graded course more seriously than in a pass/fail course. Yet students in graded courses may be less willing to take risks or investigate new subjects than those in pass/fail courses.

Which format should I use to grade my students?

This is your decision, but there is growing sentiment that traditionally graded seminars are more successful. It's important to decide which grading format you want to use before students start registering for the class. The course number reflects the grading format, and that number needs to reflect the correct grading format for your course.

Do students receive credit towards graduation for first-year seminars?

Yes.

What if I want to allow a student who is not a first-year student into my seminar?

Call or e-mail Barbara Carlson (2-0012, bcarlson {at} franklin dt uga dt edu {subj} Request+Information) with the student's name and student ID. She will provide an override that admits the student to the course. Because of limited space, we do not encourage too many overrides.

Should I assign work in my seminar–reading, writing, other projects? How much work?

First-year seminars are supposed to be academic in nature and of substance. The answer, then, is yes: if you would make such assignments in your normal academic courses, then you should do so in a first-year seminar, making allowances, of course, for the fact that this course is only a one-hour course, and that it is offered to first-year students. One useful rule of thumb might be this old one: students should work for two hours outside of class--reading, thinking, writing--for every hour inside class.

Can I schedule my seminar so that it meets every other week, or for two hours a week during the first half of the semester?

We encourage creative, flexible scheduling of seminars, as long as they meet a total of 15 hours during the semester. To avoid conflicts with student schedules, the schedule you adopt should be one consistent with University policy and that can be published in the Schedule of Classes.

Should the results of teaching evaluations for my seminar be counted in my annual report?

Definitely.

Where can I find topics taught by faculty as first-year seminars?

Go to First-Year Seminars and click on the links to lists of previously taught seminars.

Where can I find examples of first-year seminar syllabi?

Go to First-Year Seminars Sample Syllabi and click on the link next to each course title.

Who orders books for my seminar?

As with other courses you teach, you order the books.

Can I teach the same seminar topic more than once?

Yes.

If I entertain students in my home, can I be reimbursed?

Within certain limits, the Student/Faculty Enrichment fund will reimburse you for expenses incurred while entertaining your students. Each instructor will receive a form for applying to this fund before the semester begins. Click here to view the guidelines for this fund. Additional forms are available from Barbara Carlson. (2-0012, bcarlson {at} franklin dt uga dt edu {subj} Request+Information).

Send questions to hruppers {at} franklin dt uga dt edu.