Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
Course Syllabus
FRESHMAN YEAR EXPERIENCE
Anderson University
FYE 101 – Section EE
1 Credit (P/F)
Monday & Wednesday – 1:30 -2:20
VAN 301
“What sort of tale have we fallen into?”
J.R.R. Tolkien
Faculty Mentor
Jim Fereira
Phone: (864) 617-2066
Mailbox: 1132
Email: jfereira@andersonuniversity.edu
Twitter: @jimthedean
Office: Merritt Administration Building
Office Hours: Monday through Friday by Appointment
Alpha Leader
Andrea McConnell
Phone: (864) 650-3235
Email: amcconnell119@
andersonuniversity.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Freshman Year Experience (FYE) is designed to provide an engaging and supportive
experience for freshmen that strengthens academic skills and develops a clear purpose for their
university experience within a Christian learning environment.
COURSE PURPOSE
The purpose of this course is to:
 Guide students in defining success and setting goals for their academic experience.
 Encourage student engagement in their academic pursuit.
 Facilitate an understanding of the unique opportunities for learning in the context of
Christian higher education.
 Gain greater understanding for students of the benefits and aims of liberal arts
education.
 Support students through their adjustments to campus life and the challenges inherent
in the freshman experience.
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Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The following three learning objectives are a general summary of all the objectives listed above.
You will be required to evaluate this class and all the other classes you are taking at the end of
the semester using the instrument IDEA. We will revisit these objectives again during the
semester. They are:
 Learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems.
 Developing a clearer understanding of, and commitment to, personal values.
 Gaining a broader understanding and appreciation of intellectual/cultural activity.
METHOD OF ASSESSING ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The grade in this course will be based on the quality and consistency of student participation in
class meetings, the consistency and depth of student responses in assigned work, completion of
activities focused on the integration of technology resources such as the iPad, and participation
in a cultural event.
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Completion of the ETS-MAPP testing.
o “You must take the ETS-MAPP test in order to pass this class. Regardless of
the percentage of points you earn, failure to take the MAPP test will
result in automatic failure of the course.”
Instructional Exercises, including Technology Resource Activities
Cultural Event
IDEA
STUDENT FEEDBACK AND GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Grading scale:
Pass
80 points
Assessment items
Points
ETS-MAPP
21
Opening Convocation
5
Written Assignments
15
In-Class Participation (activities and
contribution to discussion)
30
Out-of-Class Participation (CEP;
Cultural/Athletic Event; Dinner out;
community service project)
21
IDEA
8
Total Points
100
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Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
CONTENT OUTLINE
Throughout the course, on a periodic basis, class time will start with a short 5-minute devotional,
to be led by the Alpha Leader
This semester, the following topics and activities will be addressed:
 Purpose of a College Education
 Convocation
 ETS-MAPP Test
 Cultural/Athletic Event
 Academic Policies and Procedures
 Academic Assessment – IPWs, GPAs, etc.
 Academic Strategies for Success
 Living in a World of Differences
We will also include some of the following:
 Differences between High School and College
 Campus Citizenship
 Financial Literacy
 Coping Skills
 Learning Styles
 Critical Thinking
 Effective Communication
 Teamwork
 Personal Safety
 Career Paths and Goals
 International Programs
 Things to Do in the Upstate
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Various methodologies will be employed this semester including class discussion, on-line blogs
and chats, guided reading, guided writing, lectures, group projects and activities, and student
dialogues.
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Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
CLASS AND ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR
There will be 13 class meetings
M/W Class
T/R Class
Aug 20
VAN 301
Aug 25
VAN 301
Aug 27
VAN 301
Sept 3
10:10 a.m.
Sept 3
1:30 p.m.
Sept 8
Henderson
Auditorium
VAN 301
Sept 10
TBD
Sept 15
VAN 301
Sept 17
Sept 24
Merritt
Theatre
VAN 301
Oct 1
VAN 301
Academic Assessment – IPWs, GPAs,
etc.
To Be Determined
Oct 8
VAN 301
To Be Determined
Oct 15
VAN 301
Preparing for Spring Semester/Finishing
Well
VAN 301
Topic
Welcome & Introduction to Course
Assignment: Why College?
Education: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Assignment: Read Handout
My Education at AU
Convocation
(During Chapel)
Career Paths & Goals
Guest: Director of Career Services
Academic Success Strategies – Part I
Planning for Success
ETS-MAPP Test
Academic Success Strategies – Part II
Managing My Time
Living in a World of Difference
Some very important dates:
 Class Dinner: _______________________________________
 Cultural Activity: ___________________________________
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Last day to withdraw from courses with no grade and financial
responsibility: Tuesday, September 2
Last day to withdraw from courses: Tuesday, October 14
Pre-Registration for Spring 2015:
Thursday, October 30 – Wednesday, November 12
REQUIRED COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Students should be familiar with the Anderson University email system and Moodle online
frontend. Each will be used regularly throughout the FYE course.
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Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
In addition, with the integration of the iPad into the general learning environment of Anderson
University, the iPad will be used regularly in the FYE course. Therefore, students should bring
their iPads to each class.
COURSE POLICIES
 Absences: This class depends heavily on your participation; failure to attend regularly
will jeopardize not only the success of the class but your grade also. More then two
absences for any reason will result in a failing grade. Coming to class is important, but
what you do once you’re here is equally important.
 Late for class: Unless there are extenuating circumstances, three tardies equal one
absence in this class. Tardy means not being in your seat after attendance is complete.
 Assignments: All assignments are due on the date specified in the content outline or the
date announced in class.
 Plagiarism: Plagiarism in any form or degree will result in immediate failure of the
course. When in doubt cite the source.
 Email policy: All students are expected to establish and maintain an e-mail address on
the Anderson University e-mail system. Students are responsible for all material,
assignments, and announcements sent by e-mail. Ignorance of course requirements,
instructor statements and directions, and University announcements or policy statements
sent through University e-mail is not an acceptable excuse for failure to meet the
requirements of a course or to adhere to University policy.
 Disabilities and academic adjustments policy: If you have a disability that may interfere
with your academic progress in this course, you may be eligible to receive an academic
adjustment to help provide you with an equal opportunity to participate in and to benefit
from this course. Please contact Dr. Dianne King, Dean of Student Success, who will
advise you on appropriate documentation, determine reasonable adjustments, and notify
me of any adjustments for which you are eligible. Once you have been approved for an
academic adjustment through the Center for Student Success, please discuss with me its
appropriate implementation in this course. Documentation must meet the guidelines
specified by university policy, and no one else can be notified of your disability or
adjustment without your written consent. This process must be repeated for every
semester you are enrolled at Anderson University and wish to receive an adjustment.
Academic adjustments are intended to “level the playing field” so that students with
disabilities can demonstrate their true abilities in their courses. Changes cannot be made
to grades earned before a student has requested an adjustment, so please attend to this
early in the semester.
 Travel policy: This course may require travel to off campus sites. Anderson University
will not provide transportation in all cases; therefore students are responsible for making
their own arrangements for all off campus travel. If a student cannot provide his/her own
transportation, the student should bring that fact to the attention of the faculty member in
a timely manner before the trip occurs. (Note: for any off campus activity outside the
normal activity required by this class (i.e. service projects, athletic activities, etc.) which
involves travel, a HEALTH RELEASE AND LIABILITY WAIVER form must be
signed by each participant in the off campus activity.
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Freshman Year Experience
Section EE
Fall 2014
LEARNING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Place
Location
Center for Student Success
Student Center, adjacent to Post Office under
the green awning
Student Center, adjacent to Book Store
Tutoring Lab/Writing Center
Computer Labs
Counseling and Career
Services
Health Center
Vandiver Hall (room 101), Watkins
Hall (rooms 114 and 002), Bunton Lab
in Thrift Basement
Village basement
Village basement
Anderson Central (forms etc)
Rice Building
Campus Ministries
Sullivan Building
ANDERSON UNIVERSITY MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
Anderson University’s Mission Statement of Purpose
Anderson University is an academic community, affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist
Convention, providing a challenging education grounded in the liberal arts, enhanced by
professional and graduate programs and a co-curricular focus on the development of character,
servant leadership, and cultural engagement. This is a diverse community that is Christ-centered,
people-focused, student-oriented, quality-driven, and future-directed.
Anderson University’s Vision Statement
To be a premier teaching university where liberal arts and professional studies thrive within a
distinctively Christian community of faculty, staff and students dedicated to learning and service.
Anderson University’s Values
 Commitment to a Christian Community
 Commitment to Liberal Arts
 Commitment to the Individual
 Commitment to Students
 Commitment to a Diverse Student Body
 Commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement
 Commitment to the Future
 Commitment to Servant Leadership
NOTE: The professor reserves the right to alter, add to, or delete requirements of the syllabus based upon the professor's
judgment of what is best for the educational purposes of a particular class. Changes in class requirements and their
influence on the final grade for the course will be discussed in class in advance and distributed in writing.
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