Ala. - A major task force has provided a blueprint for enriching The University of Alabama freshman year experience. Recommendations by the Task Force on the Freshman Year include a freshman advocate appointed by the provost, a freshman seminar and other programs aimed at enriching the academic experience of freshmen and promoting strategies for student success. One reason is that, historically, UA has put high value on undergraduate teaching and services, an especially gratifying fact in light of the recent Carnegie Commission report on undergraduate education in the nation's research universities. The Carnegie Commission report challenged universities to not let research agendas take precedence over undergraduate teaching.
Future plans call for interactive tutorials.
The strongest recommendation from the task force calls for a freshman advocate to be appointed by the provost. This advocate would come from the ranks of UA's senior faculty, have demonstrated a commitment to the undergraduate experience, and be assisted by a freshman council comprised of administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Together this team would serve as the primary advocate for the freshman year initiatives and agenda. Major sub-committees looked at orientation, the academic experience, student affairs, and esprit. No stone of an idea was left unturned.