Advising Guide for First Year Seminar Students & Faculty

First-Year Seminar Program
Advising Guide for Students and Faculty

September 1, 2006

First Year Students and Advisers:

I hope this booklet is helpful to you as you establish your relationship in the First Year Seminar. It presents important information about initial expectations in a dialogue of "frequently asked questions." These are the rules of the game.

As an advising concept for first year students, the Seminar Program works. Students and advisers get to know one another through their on-going interaction in class. In taking on a seminar, advisers have assumed the responsibility of being one of the most important influences in the lives of new students in their first months at Middlebury.

For students, the first year in college is a challenging transition. The opportunity to meet on a frequent basis and to get to know their faculty adviser is important and should be fully exploited. Faculty advisers do more than teach the class. They are available to listen and to offer their experience and concern. The faculty adviser can be of significant help to students in making the adjustment from high school to college.

Advisers share this concern with many others who provide students with the support they need to succeed. Middlebury has a strong student services staff whose goal is to reinforce the academic mission of the College by maintaining a successful residential community. I hope you will get to know the "people who can help" listed on the back cover: they are also happy to answer your questions in the crucial beginning weeks, and thereafter.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if I don't get the other three classes I need? Am I doomed?

You are not doomed, but it is entirely possible you won't get exactly the class schedule you want most. Courses and sections are limited in size to ensure as much as possible classes of a reasonable size. Be sure to make priorities among your course choices. Read the descriptions of all the 100 level classes in the Catalog. Don't be afraid to take a calculated risk. Explore your alternatives and come to registration knowing three or four ways that your first semester will satisfy your needs.

After this first "Town Meeting" registration, you will participate in future course registrations in our web-based registration system.These procedures will be fully explained when the time comes (Spring Term Registration will be in mid-November).

So don't worry now about future registrations. It is good to have a master plan and you should have confidence that you will get into the courses you need (it is also okay not to have a master plan; things will also work out).

Don't be. It's not that complicated - and you can always refer to your Personal Information page on the web to check on your distribution status.

But let's summarize anyway. We have a course distribution requirement based on eight categories of courses, and a cultures and civilizations requirement involving four categories of courses. You must take one course in seven of the eight categories - and one course in each of four cultures and civilizations categories. A listing and explanation of these categories are in the hard-copy Catalog (be reminded that the Catalog in its most up-to-date form can be accessed on-line through the College's web page) and also in the seminar registration materials you received this summer. You may take a "voluntary minor," which is a collection of four to six courses outside your major that are similar to one another (perhaps they are all in the same discipline, or are united by a particular theme).

It makes sense to keep course distribution in mind as you choose classes. The requirement that you cannot choose more than one course this term in any one discipline ensures distribution at this point.

Does the first year Seminar count toward the Distribution requirement?

Yes. Check the First-Year Seminar Registration booklet to see which distribution category or categories your Seminar covers.

Are there any idiosyncrasies in the Distribution Requirement?

You won't get Foreign Language credit for first year French or first year Spanish. The thinking is that many students have taken French and Spanish in high school - and might choose to repeat that work at Middlebury in order to satisfy the distribution requirement. 

Other than that, it's pretty straightforward: one course in seven of eight categories. Note in the course catalog that distribution categories are listed after the course description.

If you want to study abroad in your junior year in the language you are considering taking, you should probably begin now. If you start next year, you will be required to come to come to Middlebury summer school in order to be qualified for study abroad. Keep in mind, however, that studying at Middlebury in the summer is a great way to learn languages. Students who begin the "less commonly taught" languages - Russian, Chinese, or Japanese - in their first year often take the third year of the language in the summer before going abroad in the junior year.

As simply stated as possible, our study abroad policy is as follows:

a) If you study in a country whose people speak a language we teach at Middlebury, you must qualify at the intermediate/advanced level (two years or more of college study).

b) If you study in a country whose people speak a language we do not teach at Middlebury (for example, in Scandinavia, Greece, Poland, Brazil), your program of study must include language study.

c) If you study in an English speaking country (i.e. the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia), you must be able to meet other conditions established by the Programs Abroad Committee.

Over half of Middlebury students study abroad in their junior year. Most of those students are taking classes in the language of the host country.

Yes, but keep in mind distribution concerns. It doesn't make sense to begin two languages in the first semester. First year language study has an intense winter term component that would be impossible to accommodate in two languages. Wait until next year to begin a second new language.

Yes, but keep in mind distribution concerns. The wisdom of taking two lab courses depends entirely upon your science background and aptitude. If you are a very strong science student, and you have an ambition for a career in the sciences, go ahead. In other cases, your high school record and aptitude scores might indicate that it would be wise to wait and not take two lab sciences immediately.

If you plan to be pre-med, you should be sure to see Arlinda Wickland, Health Professions Adviser, during Orientation or in the first week of class in order to familiarize yourself with the pre-med course requirements. You don't have to major in the sciences to be pre-med, but it's important that you start early and take the right sequence of courses.

Other departments, Economics and International Studies, for example, ask you to get started early in order to get through required preliminary courses. Again, read the Catalog.

It's okay if you don't know what you want to major in: the first year is for experimenting, finding out about yourself and your interests. If you hope to study abroad in your junior year, however, it does make sense to get started in your major this year, so you will have required courses out of the way by then. Likewise, it is important to start pre-medical courses if you have intend to take the MCATs during your junior year.

If you have two or three major possibilities, take classes in your first year in those areas, and you will end up knowing more about your direction at the end of the year. Read the Catalog closely so you know the demands of different departments in which you are interested.

No. The first year is for spreading out, to experience liberal arts diversity, to "distribute" your courses over the curriculum. Perhaps in the second semester, with the adviser's recommendation and for good reasons, the Dean of your Commons would give permission for two courses in the same department.

May I take five courses - or six?

No. First-year students take a maximum of four courses. No exceptions in your first semester. The rule for five courses is: "permission is granted to students who have maintained an average of B or better in the two preceding terms." If you think an exception is warranted for the spring, see your adviser and then one of the Deans of Commons. Five is the maximum number of courses allowed, and then only with authorization.

Yes, it is your prerogative to take three courses. For some students, taking three courses in the first semester makes good sense. Usually, it is advisable to start with four courses, then drop down to three if the work load is too great, or if one course entirely eludes you. Remember that you have to make up that course credit at some point (unless you have an AP credit, or credit earned from some other college or university prior to coming to Middlebury).

No, not two. Students taking two courses are "special students" and must have special approval. The faculty adviser cannot approve a two-course load. Students may drop to two with the permission of the Administration Committee in the case of urgent personal circumstances (for example, a family crisis or a serious medical problem).

Not yet. Each First Year Seminar is writing intensive. Sometime in the next three semesters, after the first, you will have to take one more writing intensive class. They are listed in the Catalog and on the web. You cannot get writing credit for both courses in your first semester.

I'm the only student in my class, I'm sure, who’s not an ace on the computer. Can I get help?

The LIS Computing Help Desk in the Library takes pride in being user-friendly. There are student consultants who will work with you as well as classes for beginners; also, students in your residence hall will be happy to teach you the basics. Make sure you look over the computer materials provided to you at the Welcome Center when you first arrive on campus. Drop in to the Computer Center during Orientation to discuss with the consultants your needs and concerns – call the Computer Help Desk at x2200.

Am I restricted only to 100 level courses?

No. It may make sense for you to take courses at the 200 or (rarely) at the 300 level. In the natural sciences and languages, students often will "place" at higher than the 100-level. Be sure to talk to department chairs at the Academic Forum or take the placement exams at their scheduled times. In the humanities and social sciences, occasionally you can get permission to enroll in upper-level classes, but keep in mind that assessments (tests, essays, etc.) are based on an assumption of academic experience.

When will I find out about my AP credit?

The LIS Computing Help Desk in the Library takes pride in being user-friendly. There are student consultants who will work with you as well as classes for beginners; also, students in your residence hall will be happy to teach you the basics. Make sure you look over the computer materials provided to you at the Welcome Center when you first arrive on campus. Drop in to the Computer Center during Orientation to discuss with the consultants your needs and concerns – call the Computer Help Desk at x2200.

I need to earn money. Can I succeed in my studies and still work?

Yes. The financial aid award, for those students who qualify, is based in part on the expectation that students can earn their spending money. We wouldn't do this if it weren't possible. Job obligations will ask you to be responsible in planning your time.

Middlebury students should be able to succeed in their studies and commit themselves to a gratifying extra-curricular activity. An extra-curricular activity is an important part of the education of many students. Sports practices begin at 4:30 p.m. at the end of the daily class schedule. The Athletic Department asks for a commitment from its varsity athletes, but support the academic priority at Middlebury. If you play on a team, it will be important for you to manage your time carefully.

The Deans of Commons have the authority to excuse you from class for medical reasons or for personal emergencies. The Deans have this authority for practical reasons: to facilitate your lives in times of distress. You explain your problem to one of them, and that Dean will write your teachers excusing you from class and extending assignments. The Deans frequently see students experiencing difficulty and may have special skills in counseling and solving problems for students.

Yes. In most cases, that's the best choice. Some teachers do insist on a "Dean's Excuse." The faculty have given the Deans exclusive authority for final exam changes and incompletes at the end of the term. The Deans have this authority in the hope of more consistent application of policies.

No. There are no "excused" absences for athletic contests. We have a concept of "explained" absences that depends on communication between students, teachers, and the Athletic Department. Students on teams go over their contest schedule with their teachers early in the semester to arrange as much as possible adjustments to accommodate conflicts. The Athletic Department, at the beginning of each semester, sends to every faculty member a list of contests and travel information and copies of the "explained absence" policy. The exclusive authority for excusing athletes from class rests with individual teachers.

First, talk to the teacher of the class. See what the teacher suggests as solutions to your problems with the material of the course. You can get a peer tutor at the Office of Learning Resources in Gifford Annex. Yonna McShane is the Director of that office which is in Gifford Annex (x3131). She, or a member of her staff, can explain the services which provide help to students experiencing academic difficulty.

Absolutely. The Director of the Writing Program at Middlebury is Kathy Skubikowski (5878). There are special writing courses (WP100-101) as well as professional writing tutors, whose offices are also located in the CTLR in the Library. Your adviser may intercede for you or you may go to the Library yourself and make arrangements for help. We also have peer writing tutors; you can get information about that service in the Library.

It's included in the comprehensive fee.

Yes, provided you do so before the end of the fifth week of the semester. After that, try to salvage the class with a strong effort - or take an "F" and try to do well in your other classes.

If you withdraw from school before December 1 in the fall and May 1 in the spring, nothing at all will appear on your transcript. You must remain out of school for at least the next semester. No F's. No refund either.

Study. Study. Study.