The English seminars also underwent some changes. At the request of the program's science, math and business instructors, Dr. Peter Conn, the graduate chair of the English department, worked with graduate students to customize the English seminars. Since the English seminars now address issues covered in other courses, students in seven of the eight sections receive partial credit for their work. Every weekend, we take them somewhere. Recreation and social events give the freshmen a temporary escape from the intense studies, as well as familiarize the students with the city, the campus and each other.
Friendship is just one of the long-term benefits of the program.
In that way, participants become apprised of the sources of information on campus and connect to a network of social and academic advice. Everything was there for me to use, while I know there were a lot of other kids who didn't even know that half of the stuff was there, basically. For a year, she tracked a group of freshmen who had completed the program, comparing them against a group who hadn't. Participants claim the program has had a positive impact on their lives. Instructors, like students, speak very highly of the program.