Your Faculty Director: Gary Halada
Your College Advisor: Rachel Sokoll
Your Quad Director: Anthony LaViscount
Name, Instructor
Email: @stonybrook.edu
Phone: 632-
ITS 101.XX
Introduction to Stony Brook
Fall 2007
Name, Instructor
Email: @stonybrook.edu
Phone: 632-
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to enhance your first-year experience at Stony Brook University.
Through academic advisement, learning about campus resources, group discussion, and
collaborative teaching you will be provided with a structured environment to assist you in
making the transition to college. You will be encouraged to use critical thinking skills to set
goals and make responsible decisions regarding academics, major, and career planning, and
social relationships. The course will also explore the purpose of higher education and your role
in the university environment.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES SYLLABUS STATEMENT
If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course
work, please contact Disability Support Services, located in the ECC Building, (631) 632-6748.
They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All
information and documentation is confidential.
COURSE GOALS
 Increase your understanding of the purpose of higher education and your place in it
 Assist you in understanding your personal development as a Stony Brook Undergraduate
 Establish a mentoring relationship between you and your First-Year Seminar instructor
 Develop a strong Undergraduate College community
 Increase your understanding of university procedures, computer systems, university
publications, academic advising and the course registration process at Stony Brook
University
 Increase your awareness and utilization of student support services available to you
 Provide opportunities to interact with and learn form peers in your Undergraduate
College
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Class Participation: Students are expected to contribute their own ideas and to ask
questions during class.
2. Class Attendance: Students are expected to attend all of the class sessions for the FirstYear Seminar. More than 2 absences will result in an unsatisfactory grade.
a. UGC Commons – FY Reading: During the Week of 10/15 in lieu of attending
regular class sessions, students will attend one event honoring author, Billy
Collins. Events are scheduled for Wednesday, 10/17 (times TBA).
3. Undergraduate College Weeks
a. During the annual “ITS Month” (scheduled for late October to late November),
students will be expected to attend one of the three programs offered on the
provided list. The program attended will require a 2-3 page reflection paper
(Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spaced) that summarizes the event,
discusses why the event was chosen, how/why it relates to ITS, and any other
information students would like to share.
b. Students will also be expected to attend one other program from an approved list
of university events that will be passed out by the end of September in class.
4. Required Reading:
a. Stony Brook University. (2007). Your First Year at Stony Brook: The beginning
of an incredible journey, 2007-2008. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.
[Available only through the University Bookstore]
b. Collings, B. (2002). Sailing Alone Around the Room: new and selected poems.
New York: Random House
[Provided at summer orientation]
5. Assignments: Each student is expected to complete:
a. Three outside-of-class Homework assignments
1. The First Year Reading Creative Expressions Contest
2. Two assigned by their instructor
b. Online 101 course Surveys (survey 1 and survey 2)
c. Online Alcohol Edu course (parts I and II).
6. Computer use: Students are expected to check their IC student account and Blackboard
for information and correspondence with the instructor and Undergraduate College.
Checking the ITS website on a regular basis in addition will also provide students with
information about ITS requirements, programs, and special events,
(http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/colleges/it.shtml).
EVALUATION AND GRADING PROCEDURES
FYS 101 is a 1-credit course for which you will earn either a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. A-C
= Satisfactory. D-F = Unsatisfactory. Missing more than 2 classes or failure to attend required
Undergraduate College events will result in you earning an Unsatisfactory. Both class
participation and assignments will also be factored into the grading for this course.
FRESHMAN SEMINAR SCHEDULE
FALL 2007
Week of
9/3
Topic
Introduction
Assignments
1st Alcohol Edu survey
9/10
10/1
Academic Integrity or
Technology/SINC site Visit
Technology/SINC site Visit or
Academic Integrity
Diversity (Tier 2) or
Technology/SINC site Visit
Academic Success (Tier 2)
Assignment 1 Due: Creative Expressions
10/8
Communication Skills (Tier 3)
10/15
UGC Commons - FY Reading
10/22
*Prevention and Outreach
10/29
Academic Advising (DEC)
11/5
Academic Advising
11/12
Financial Literacy (Tier 3)
11/19
11/26
Class canceled for ITS program
attendance or Tier 3
Career Planning (Tier 3)
12/3
Nutrition/Wrap Up (Tier 3)
12/10
Tier 3 of your choice
9/17
9/24
Everyone must attend a “Billy Collins” event
in lieu of class
Assignment 1 Due
2nd Alcohol Edu survey
**ITS Month Starts**
Assignment 2 Due and all “ITS Month”
reflection papers not yet handed in.
* The date for Prevention and Outreach may be switched with any TIER 2 or TIER 3
Bold faced represents activities that are REQUIRED to be done at the scheduled time.