University Perspectives is an example of a first-year seminar course designed to aid students in the transition from high school to college. University Perspectives is a faculty-led initiative that was begun in 2013 and introduces students to life at the University of Arkansas.

High Impact Practice (HIP) 1: First-Year Seminars

University Perspectives

University Perspectives is an example of a First Year Seminar at the U of A. Kelly Westeen, Director of University Perspectives, presented “Shake (UP) Your HIPs: Reimagining the First Year Experience Course”  at the HIPs retreat to discuss this.

Westeen says, “Nationally, the first-year experience course is cited as one of the most widely implemented HIPs on college and university campuses. But simply saying something is a HIP does not make it a HIP.” In this presentation, Kelly Westeen “explored what makes University Perspectives a HIP and what other HIPs the course employs to provide a rich experience for first-year students that helps enhance their academic and social integration on campus. … [and] also explore trends in FYE courses across the nation and how University Perspectives partners redesigned the course for Fall 2018 in light of research, an examination of peer institutional successes and programming, and campus student and faculty feedback.”
Westeen discussed the new initiatives that are occurring within the University Perspectives curriculum such as including a new opportunity for faculty to create theme courses based on their interests, more flexibility in scheduling, removing the course text, and creating a new set of online assignments for students to complete over the summer that introduces them to the university.
This presentation can be downloaded and viewed as a pdf: Shake (UP) Your HIPs – Reimagining the First-Year Experience Course – Kelly Westeen

For more about High Impact Practices and HIP 1: First Year Seminars, see HIPs: High Impact Practices

This content was developed from a presentation at “Are We H.I.P. Enough? A Retreat Showcasing High Impact Practices on Campus” coordinated by Brande Flack, Danielle Dunn, and Deborah Korth and sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the Offices of Student Success.