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FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS

What's a First Year Seminar?

THE FIRST YEAR SEMINAR -- 4 credit hours:

All new first-year students, and many transfer students with less than one full year of college study, must enroll in a First-Year Seminar during the first semester at Warren Wilson College. The seminar instructor serves as the student's academic advisor until a major advisor is determined. The seminar consists of a small group of students and is designed to provide a stimulating beginning for collegiate study. Seminars are offered in many different subjects, introducing the student to Warren Wilson collegiate life, and to strategies for learning, problem solving, and research, using resources of the College and the immediate area.

The First-Year Seminar is part of a larger First Year Experience Program. This Program lays the foundation for effective student-focused learning by introducing students to liberal arts study through integration of academics, work, service and student life. The Program assists students in making the transition from high school student to college student and provides them opportunities for finding focus and for assuming their rights and responsibilities as a student at Warren Wilson College. The First Year Experience Program covers all immediate areas of the College's contact with students, beginning with the admission process and continuing with registration, orientation, academic advising and life mentoring, academic content and pedagogy, student life, work crew assignments and Service-Learning opportunities.

COMMON ELEMENTS OF FIRST YEAR SEMINARS:

ACADEMIC CHALLENGE: The First Year Seminar is a four-credit course taken in the first semester at Warren Wilson College. In addition to the common elements listed below, each seminar has a different curricular focus. It is not necessary that your First-Year Seminar serve as an introduction to a particular discipline or that you select a seminar in the field in which you may eventually complete a major. Rather, you should consider the seminar an opportunity to explore the nature of the liberal arts study through a particular course.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: The faculty instructor for your First Year Seminar will serve as your academic advisor for your first year here.
PEER GROUP LEADER: The students in your First Year Seminar will constitute your "peer group" during Orientation Week. Each peer group has an experienced Warren Wilson student attached to it, and this student will serve as your "Peer Group Leader" during Orientation and throughout your first year of college.
RESEARCH PROJECT: Each seminar will include a written assignment that is a research-based project (including use of the library).
SERVICE PROJECT: Each seminar will participate in a group service project with the instructor and peer group leader.
WRITING PROMPTS: Periodically during your first semester you will be asked to complete a brief in-class writing assignment which asks you to reflect upon important areas of Warren Wilson's Triad Education Program. Your individual responses will be kept confidential, but the summarized results will help the college learn more about the thoughts and opinions of you and your peers, and how we can best support our first-year students.
TRANSITION THEME SESSIONS: Each seminar will provide multiple opportunities to make connections with and among various areas of WWC that are important to your transition to college and can help you create a positive and successful experience here. Your First Year Seminar class syllabus will include several "transition sessions," which are presented by college staff members in collaboration with first year seminar instructors. These sessions will focus on the following 8 topics:

1- Academic Support Services
2- The Writing Center
3- Library & Research Resources
4- Educational Planning
5- The Work Program
6- The Service-Learning Program
7- Well-Being
8- Life Planning ("Planning the College Experience...
. . . & Beyond")