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FSUS Program History

Coordinator
Shelly VandePanne

Former Employees
Nada Broderick
Rebecca Goosen
  • 1985 - Three credit freshman seminar initiated for Collegiate Skills Program (at-risk students) modeled after course offered at the University of South Carolina.
  • 1994 - UNIV 290 First-Year Experience Seminar piloted as a 1 credit seminar designed to act as an advising system with faculty serving as advisors for students in their course with 9 sections, 139 Students, 4 Colleges (BUS, TEC, AHS, EDU). UNIV 290 retention was 3% higher than all FTIAC's, 56% compared to 53%. If students took both courses (fall and winter) the retention was 20% higher - 73%.
  • 1995 - Following successful pilot offering, FSUS 100 and FSUS 101 become official courses with 39 sections of FSUS 100 offered in the fall.
  • 1996 - College of Business and College of Arts and Sciences indicate desire to require FSUS 100 and FSUS 101 for all of their first-year students. 51 sections of FSUS 100 offered in the Fall and 6 sections of FSUS 100 offered as well as 38 sections of FSUS 101 in Winter 1997.
  • 1997 - First program coordinator named.
  • 2000 - Ferris became part of a national educational benchmarking initiative (EBI) for first-year seminars.
  • 2001 - Admissions Standards Review Committee recommends that FSUS 100 become mandatory for all FTIACs and transfer students with fewer than 12 credits. Recommendation supported by Vice President for Academic Affairs, Academic Senate, the Recruitment and Retention Policy Committee, and FSU Board of Trustees (May, 2001).
  • 2002 - FSUS 100 becomes mandatory with 128 sections of FSUS 100 plus 17 infused courses offered.
  • 2004 - VPAA publishes Academic Affairs Policy Letter requiring FSUS 100 in the first semester for all new first-time college students.
  • 2004 - FSUS course objectives revised to include discussion on academic integrity, classroom etiquette and the history of Ferris State University. FSU program hosts the first-annual"Making a Difference" Conference for first-year seminar instructors.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Ferris State University Seminar Class is to provide first year students with personal connections, knowledge, and resources that will enhance their potential for learning, safety, satisfaction and graduation.