{"id":66,"date":"2017-09-01T14:57:30","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T14:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/parents\/?p=66"},"modified":"2017-09-05T13:03:42","modified_gmt":"2017-09-05T13:03:42","slug":"learning-thrive-college-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/parents\/2017\/09\/01\/learning-thrive-college-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to Thrive in the College Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transitioning from high school to college is not easy. New students are figuring out how to live on their own, manage their time, and make new friends.<\/p>\n

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Perhaps the biggest challenge is figuring out how to adapt to the college classroom. This is why we have a First-Year Experience<\/a>, a carefully planned and coordinated set of programs and resources from across the university- and the cornerstone of that experience is the First-Year Seminar<\/a>, or FSEM.<\/p>\n

What are FSEMS?\"Student<\/strong><\/p>\n

The FSEM was designed by Mary Washington\u2019s faculty through a careful study and review of what it takes to prepare incoming students for success. The FSEM is offered for all new students in their first semester, and is taught by master instructors from virtually every discipline across campus.<\/p>\n

In designing the FSEM, the goal was to provide incoming students with an educational opportunity that represents what faculty would describe as the ideal intellectual experience \u2013 a small class that studies primary texts to dig into topics of interest to the faculty and students.<\/p>\n

FSEM topics<\/a> are selected by the faculty, and are typically drawn from that faculty member\u2019s personal expertise and interests. The FSEM is capped at fifteen students, and class time is devoted to group discussion of important texts and ideas.<\/p>\n

We have identified five key learning outcomes for the FSEM that support our mission to equip first-year students with effective skills in speaking, writing, and research- all of which they will draw upon throughout their academic career (and beyond!).<\/p>\n

What will students do in class?<\/strong><\/p>\n

After reading primary texts, and discussing them in class, students are expected to research their own projects, which are then written about and presented. We have excellent academic support centers on campus that support the FSEM, including:<\/p>\n