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Student Success

First Year Seminar

Program Mission

The First Year Seminar program aims to have students transition successfully to college life and college-level study via theme-based courses, combining academic instruction and academic advising. The program develops self-reflection, critical thought processes, and contextual knowledge and analysis of the relationship between person(s) and place.

Program Goals

  1. To have students find their place at Lees-McRae College.
  2. To have students develop good decision-making strategies.
  3. To have students engage in basic critical analysis of a topic.
  4. To have students understand the role of personal responsibility within society.
  5. To have students be successful in their college careers.

First Year Seminar (CLA 199) is a 3 credit-hour course required for all freshmen at Lees-McRae College. First Year Seminar is an introduction to academic life for students and is designed to facilitate successful academic and social transitions from high school to college. Each section of First Year Seminar consists of a small cohort of students. This format allows each student the opportunity to build meaningful, supportive relationships with a group of classmates and the instructor. First Year Seminar is also designed to allow students the opportunity to explore academic, cultural and social issues. Each instructor centers his/her course on a topic of their choosing, keeping with the overarching theme of First Year Seminar, “self and the environment.” Topics have included: Global Citizenship, Character Building: From Here to Integrity, Exploring Your Personal Identity Development, Take the Lead: Leadership and many more. This course helps students to strengthen the skills necessary to be a successful college student both inside and outside of the classroom. Class activities, discussions and assignments are designed to strengthen research, writing, critical thinking and study skills.