At different universities, freshmen seminars come in a variety of flavors. Some focus on study skills and social issues, while others deal with specific academic topics. Some are optional, and because of a vote yesterday by the University Faculty Senate, freshmen seminars here soon will be required.
Students are more likely to stay at a university where they've had a freshmen seminar experience.
Bonnie MacEwan, a member of the Special Committee on General Education, said the seminars usually have a positive impact. The committee also found that the programs almost always benefited both students and faculty, said Robert Pangborn, chairman of the Special Committee on General Education. Pangborn said many smaller colleges already require freshmen seminars, and the trend is for larger universities, such as Penn State, to adopt similar programs. One model of a large university's freshmen seminar program is the one at University of South Carolina. This semester, the University of South Carolina holds 108 sections of freshmen seminars that are required for students in some, but not all majors, Gardner said.