By Doris Thompson
A new seminar class aims to help freshmen through the transition from high school to university classes by helping them feel comfortable around faculty and providing them with smaller class sizes, said Sara Lee Gibb, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance.
University 101 is a one-credit class that meets once a week during the first block of Fall Semester, 2003. The experimental class has 10 sections; four of the sections met during the week before Fall Semester started.
'The General Education Evaluation Task Force proposed this class last year,' said Dr. John Lamb, associate dean of General Education and professor of the Underpinnings of Modern Science section. 'We''re piloting this year and seeing how it goes.'
Freshman Academy has helped freshmen ease into the rigors of college for the past six years. This is the first year for the University 101 class, which is separate from Freshman Academy, though the programs share similar goals.
'We attempt to provide for students who can''t fit in Academy classes,' Lamb said.
Freshmen may find the move from the small halls of a local high school to a sprawling campus like BYU difficult.
' is a good way to be in an intimate environment and not to have an overwhelming first year,' said Kevin Khona, a freshman from Mechanicsburg, Pa., majoring in pre-management.
'Most freshmen classes are large, so is a really good way to have a feeling of community,' he said.
University 101 works to bring faculty members and students together in relaxed settings as well as in the classroom.
'I hope to get students out to my house for an outing to talk about art or music or science or some other enlightening subject,' Lamb said.
Students also have the opportunity to have lunch with their professor and get to know each other better.
'A small group gets together so we can feel comfortable with a faculty member,' Khona said.
University 101 tries to foster a learning environment conducive to participation and questions.
'We like participation,' Lamb said. 'One of the objectives is to get them talking and interacting with a professor.'
The close interaction with professors in such a small setting gives students and teachers a unique opportunity to build relationships.
'I''ve only had class for a week, but he has become a friend,' Khona said