I.  Proposal Guidelines

1.      Department Chair Approval

Proposals should have a letter of support from the department chair to indicate scheduling class limits (enrollment limit of 25) and department support where appropriate.

2.   Cover Letter

a.      The Cover letter should discuss ways that the FIRST YEAR Experience Objectives will be met.  The faculty should provide clear mechanisms to incorporate the following student outcomes:

è    Communications Competencies.

·        Writing. Provide opportunities to practice college writing, such as essay exams, response papers, position papers, and extended essays.

·        Oral skills.  Introduce academic etiquette and civil communication.

è    Academic Competencies.

·        Library Research.  Inform about library resources (i.e., general library information; searching and acquisition process; research methodologies).

·        Critical Thinking.  Encourage critical, analytical, reflective, and transformational thinking about issues and ideas they encounter in the course content.

·        Problem-solving/Decision-making.  Identify problem-solving techniques, including the discovery of alternatives available, and selection of appropriate solutions.

·        Technological Knowledge and Skills.  Present analysis and synthesis of information available through information technology.  (e.g., use of the campus Blackboard system, word processing).

è    Awareness of and Participation in a Diverse University Community.

·        Explore and define ‘diversity’ as it exists on the UNK Campus.

·        Develop an understanding of the importance of other cultures in their development as a student and as a contributing member of the UNK community.

è      Dedication to the General Studies Core.

·        Investigate acquisition of knowledge from the broad perspective of science and culture.

·        Present interdisciplinary relationships among disciplines and ways to apply that knowledge to their personal development.

è    Expectations of Students within the UNK Community

·        Explore the Student Handbook, Undergraduate Catalog, and other important university policies in relation to classroom expectations, sexual harassment, academic dishonesty, privacy guidelines and graduation requirements.  Student will also become familiar with resources available for academic, personal, and career concerns.

b.      The cover letter should also describe the role that the Student Peer Leader will play in the course and the means for evaluating his/her performance.  (See Student Peer Leader Job Description in Appendix.)

3.   Course Syllabus

The syllabus should describe particular assignments and grading procedures related to the above objectives, including reading lists and/or descriptions of materials.   

FIRST YEAR Course Proposal Checklist

 

_____Department Chair Letter of Support

 

_____Cover Letter

 

_____Course Syllabus