Ball State University
Freshman Connections
Address:
City: Muncie
State: IN
Zip or Postal Code: 47306
Country: USA
Program Director (or best person to contact): Tom Lowe
Email: tlowe@gw.bsu.edu
Phone: 765-285-1511
Fax: 765-285-2167
Web Address: http://web.bsu.edu/tla/fc/desc.htm
Brief Program Summary
The freshman class is split into groups of about 500 students who live near one another in the same
resident complex. Each student in the complex has two classes with some other students in the
complex.
Each of these student groups is served by a Freshman Connections Complex. The complex is
composed of a convener (who organizes meetings of members) and one or more Learning Teams.
Each Learning Team is composed of a small group of faculty from different disciplines, an academic
advisor, a residence hall assistant director, supplemental instructors (students who help facilitate
class-based learning), and mentors (students who help facilitate extra-class academic-social activities).
Members of the Learning Teams work together to provide an optimal experience for freshman.
see http://web.bsu.edu/tla/fc/desc.htm
Sources of funding
Lilly Endowment Grant
Program Reports To:
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: 95
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 0
Fulltime Instructors: 0
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 0
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 0
Parttime Instructors: 0
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 0
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: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 0
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: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 0
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 100
Second Year: 0
Third Year: 0
Fourth Year and above: 0
Graduate Students: 0
Total Number of Students: 0
Year the Program Began:1997
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
100 level courses are part of core curriculum for all students (students have some choices)
English writing courses
Mathematics courses
History
Psychology
Biology
Natural Resources
Chemistry
Theatre
Classical Cultures
...and some others
Other Academic Offerings
Classrooms in hall
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget This program is about the people much more than about facilities.
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
student labs in all residence halls and ports in rooms
The Role of Community Partnerships
some service learning partnerships, but these are arranged
by the complexes and individual faculty, not by the
coordinators of the program.
The Role of Leadership Development
We include successful undergraduate role models on the learning
teams. These students have a training program and during
the year organize out of class activities. Faculty can
apply for campus grants to develop other leadership
programs.
The Role of Research
There is continual assessment of the program.
Summary of Assessment Activities
Regular surveys of everyone in the program
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
1) common reading
2) field trips
3) study and help sessions in residence halls
4) many others -- see http://web.bsu.edu/tla/fc/
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
The program is built on the concept of "connections" among
core curriculm classes and links to residence halls
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
Our common reading this last year was
"Life on the color line" by Gregory Williams.
There were also workshops offered for faculty and other
members in the learning teams.
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Student Demographics
I don't have this data close at hand. However we try to
include all freshman in this program. We are a medium-sized
primarily residential campus, not in an urban area.
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
free lunch once a year
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
disciplines described in an item above
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
No
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Suggested Bibliography