No. College-specific sections will still be offered. Student Success Programs will work with colleges to determine the number of college-based sections. However, some students want the opportunity to choose a section with students outside of their major so some sections will allow for this choice. The curriculum in each section will be the same, regardless of whether it is college/major specific or not.

We may add summer sections if there is a need.

We want instructors who are committed to undergraduate student success, whether they are faculty or staff. A job description can be found here. Per University Policy 3-02(B), instructors must have at least a master’s degree.

No. Common Reading is not part of the Flashes 101 curriculum.

This is developing! We did a small assessment of the pilot in Fall 2022 with questions on the SSI, and also completed a pilot of a fully online section in Fall 2023. The evaluation plan will include formative assessment for instructors, assessment for the university level course, and focus groups to understand the student experience.

Flashes 101 will be graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U).

Intentional advising during DKS. Sections will be identified as college-based or open.

During the extensive revisioning process, students indicated that they wanted to be with students who were from different majors, so many sections will be open or general sections. For 2023-24, we will offer some college specific sections. However, the purpose of Flashes 101 is to develop sense of belonging and help students feel part of a caring community. We will work with advising deans and coordinators to determine how content that is not aligned with the learning objectives can be shared with students.

Sections will be assigned before the training takes place. Part of the application process will be your dean or supervisor signing off on the commitment to allow you to teach a section.

Having the right faculty is of utmost importance and they will be extensively trained. The content will include an in-depth review of the learning objectives, curriculum and lesson plans; defining and understanding sense of belonging, and how to create/build a community, etc. The Center for Teaching and Learning is leading the training development.

This year, the training academy will take place on, May 18^th and 19^th, 9:00-4:00 both days. Instructors will be trained every year.