American University
University College
Address: 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
City: Washington
State: DC
Zip or Postal Code: 20016-8071
Country: USA
Program Director (or best person to contact): Patrick Thaddeus Jackson
Email: ptjack@american.edu
Phone: 202 885-3839
Fax: 202 885-1069
Web Address: http://american.edu/universitycollege/
Brief Program Summary
Residential seminars for first-year students, all of which feature extensive experiential components that take advantage of our locating in Washington, DC. Each seminar has a Program Associate -- a specially-trained upperclass student -- living on the floor with the first-year students actually enrolled in the seminar. There are also common events connecting the seminars.
Sources of funding
Students take one additional credit added to their regular three-credit seminar.
Program Reports To:
Director of the General Education Program
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 7
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 2
Fulltime Instructors: 2
Fulltime Retired Faculty:
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty:
Fulltime Graduate Students:
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff:
Parttime Tenured Faculty:
Parttime Probationary Faculty:
Parttime Instructors:
Parttime Retired Faculty:
Parttime Adjunct Faculty:
Parttime Graduate Students:
Parttime Residence Hall Staff:
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff:
Parttime Academic Staff:
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 2
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 14
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 1
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 100
Second Year:
Third Year:
Fourth Year and above:
Graduate Students:
Total Number of Students: 275
Year the Program Began:2005
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
All are three-credit courses; students also take one additional credit to cover the rest of the program activities.
Individual Freedom vs. Authority
World Politics
Theater: Principles, Plays and Performances
Great Books That Shaped The Western World
Visual Literacy
Critical Approach to Cinema
Politics in the United States
Macroeconomics
Psychology as a Natural Science
General Biology I
Cross-Cultural Communication
Other Academic Offerings
Classrooms in hall
2
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
The Role of Community Partnerships
The Role of Leadership Development
The Role of Research
Summary of Assessment Activities
Focus groups and surveys.
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
Study trips into the city; behind-the-scenes tours of prominent national attractions; floor social events.
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Student Demographics
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
UC faculty come from all parts of the university.
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
Yes
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Finding space for everyone who wants to participate!
Suggested Bibliography
Parker Palmer, To Know as We Are Known
Howe and Strauss, Millennials Go to College