We want to continue on the path of increasing quality in everything that we do. Last year, Senior Vice Chancellor Richard Edwards appointed a special faculty task force to study the Freshman Experience, chaired by Professor Ted Pardy. This task force has now made its recommendations, which I believe we should move to implement. I invite everyone to read the entire report, which is now available on the website. The goal, as stated by the task force, is to increase retention by providing small interactive class environments.
Many programs already have such freshman seminars.
We already have a successful foundations program that can play a key role. Let us stretch ourselves to see if we can ensure that every first-year student has such an experience. Add structure and function to the definition of a University Learning Community. We now have eleven of these communities with more to come. These are steps required in becoming a university of the first rank in undergraduate education.