UC DAVIS: OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

August 1, 2008

MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY

RE: Reissuing Call for FRS Seminars

I am renewing an invitation for faculty participation in the Freshman Seminar Program for the academic year 2008-2009. As many of you know, the program is designed to give first-year students the opportunity to study with a faculty member in more informal, small group settings on topics of mutual interest. Freshman Seminars are special Senate-approved courses assigned the FRS subject code and administered by the Teaching Resources Center. Faculty can choose to offer a seminar for either one or two-units and for either pass/no pass or traditional letter grades. Enrollment is limited to twenty students per class. Seminars can be scheduled to meet in departmental conference/seminar rooms or, if necessary, in general assignment classroom space. All proposals are reviewed by a faculty program committee.

From the program's inception, faculty members have offered Freshman Seminars in addition to their normal departmental teaching assignments. As a means of acknowledging the instructor's contribution to our undergraduate educational mission, I am pleased to offer, as non-compensated overload, instructional research support in the amounts of $2,000 for 2-unit seminars and $1,500 for 1-unit seminars. These funds will be transferred to the faculty member's departmental account. Additionally, instructors are eligible to apply for up to $500 in minigrant support to defray actual expenses associated with conducting the class.

I especially encourage you to consider offering a seminar in fall when demand is by far the highest. Let me also invite you to consider seminar topics for the coming year that might be especially appropriate in connection with the campus centennial. These could include explorations attuned to the history of the campus and its region, the development of distinctive campus programs and facilities, the changing characteristics of Davis students and faculty, campus and community folklore, and so on.

I hope you will consider participating in the Freshman Seminar Program as a unique opportunity to work with our first-year students. If you are interested in offering an FRS Seminar, please complete the "Proposal to Teach a Freshman Seminar" application on the TRC web site (http://trc.ucdavis.edu/trc/freshSem/call.html).  Please note the following deadlines:

            Monday, September 1, 2008 proposal deadline for fall 2008 seminars

            Wednesday, October 1, 2008 proposal deadline for winter 2009 seminars

            Thursday, January 1, 2009 proposal deadline for spring 2009 seminars

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Janet Chambers at the TRC (530) 752-3249 or by e-mail at trc@ucdavis.edu.  Thank you.

            Patricia Turner

            Vice Provost -- Undergraduate Studies