Seminar Leader:
Office:
Office Phone:
Pioneer Peer:
Course Description:
This course is part of a program at SMC known as The Freshman Year Experience. All freshmen are required to take the two-semester series consisting of SMC 101 and SMC 102. During your sophomore year, you will also take SMC 103, which builds on the objectives of The Freshman Year Experience.
A seminar leader, who is a member of the SMC faculty or staff, teaches the course. A Pioneer Peer assists the seminar leader and members of the class. Pioneer Peers are sophomores who can especially relate to freshmen and serve as mentors.
SMC 101 is designed to help you make the transition from high school to college. The class generally meets on Mondays from 11:00 – 11:50 am. Each week the class will focus on a topic that provides information and opportunities that lead to a successful college experience. Fully participating in the course will help you meet the following objectives:
Course Objectives:
- Participation in a small group experience
- Laying a foundation for successful adjustment to college
- Making college a meaningful experience
- Understanding the purpose and values of SMC
- Learning about the services and resources of SMC
- Gaining academic skills
- Gaining social skills
Required Materials:
- Discovering SMC 101, a custom-published resource manual/notebook, to be purchased from the SMC Bookstore
- The SMC Student Handbook
- The SMC Catalog
- A folder or three-ring binder in which to keep handouts and other materials
- Materials for a project as assigned by your seminar leader (i.e., a journal, materials for a collage, etc.)
Attendance:
You are expected to attend every class session. This includes small group seminar classes and assembly programs – see schedule below. Up to two absences are allowed in case of unexpected situations such as illness. Students who miss more than two (2) seminar meetings of SMC 102 will be dropped from the class due to excessive absences. (Any absence counts, regardless of the reason. If you simply cut two classes and then miss one due to illness, you will have exceeded the limit, and will “FA” the class.) Also, up to 60% of your grade is earned by attendance at cultural events and other types of programs in addition to the Monday classes.
Attendance Cards:
Colored cards are used to record your attendance at events for this course. Each student receives a card at the door upon arrival for an event. You must fill in the information on the card (name of event, your name, social security number, and seminar leader’s name) neatly, completely and accurately to ensure proper credit for your attendance! No credit will be given if you leave early or if your card is illegible. Return your card to the designated monitor at the end of the event.
SMC 102 Syllabus
Page 2
Tardiness:
No attendance cards are issued after an event has started, so be prompt, please! Your seminar leader will determine how to treat tardiness to class meetings.
Conduct, Attitude and Participation:
Appropriate behavior and dress are expected at all class seminars and SMC 102 events. Talking at inappropriate times, whistling during performances, and wearing caps are examples of inappropriate behavior. Your are expected to exhibit a cooperative attitude in class, and to make an effort to achieve the objectives of the course. If your seminar leader determines that you are not benefiting from the class, and/or are distracting others, you may be required to leave a class session or be dropped from the course.
Seminar Meetings:
Your seminar group will meet every Monday from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. during the spring semester except as noted below. Special note: Each of the weekly meetings is counted as class attendance, even though some are assemblies. This needs to be changed next version. Is inconsistent with schedule below.
| Date |
Type of Meeting |
Topic |
| August 27: |
Seminar class |
Course Introduction |
September 3:
(Yes, Labor Day) |
Assembly in Camak |
Technology |
September 5:
(Yes, Wednesday) |
Assembly |
Convocation and Signing of Honor Code |
| September 10: |
Cultural Event in Camak |
Southern Voices |
| September 17: |
Seminar Class |
Handbook and Catalog |
|
(Counts as a class and as 5-point cultural event) |
| September 24: |
Seminar class |
Coping with change |
| October 1: |
Interest Groups |
Exploring Majors |
|
(To be explained) |
| October 8: |
Seminar class |
Time/Money Management |
| October 15 |
Fall break- no class |
| October 22: |
Meeting with advisors |
Mid-term Progress Review |
| October 29: |
Seminar class |
Wellness |
| November 5: |
Seminar class |
Study Skills |
| November 12: |
Seminar class |
Relationships |
| November 19: |
To be decided |
Etiquette |
| November 26: |
Seminar class |
Conflict Resolution |
|
(Turn in notebook) |
| December 3: |
Seminar class |
Instructor’s Choice |
|
(Notebook returned) |
How to Earn Points:
Project (20 points maximum):
- You will be responsible for making entries in your Discover SMC 101 Notebook on a regular basis. Your seminar leader will give you instructions about the nature and completion of this project, for which you may earn as much as 20 points toward your grade for SMC 101. Your seminar leader may also assign you an alternative or additional project.
Writing Assignments (10 points maximum):
- These assignments will take the form of “quick writes,” short reaction papers, and/or letters assigned by your seminar leader.
Special Assignments (20 points maximum):
- Each of the following events or activities are worth 5 points, although you may receive credit for only four of them:
- Please Understand Me (computerized personality inventory)
- SIGI Plus (computerized interest inventory)
- Leadership Over Lunch (9/21, 10/26, or 11/16 – credit limited to two of these)
- Club Meeting (Clear with seminar leader in advance)
SMC 101 Syllabus
Page 3
Attendance Events (50 points maximum):
These events are divided into two categories:
- Cultural/Campus Wide Events (5 points each; you can earn all 50 of your points in this category if you wish)
Examples include concerts, plays, recitals, and other cultural events. Your seminar leader will keep you informed about events that qualify for this category.
- Chapel Worship Services and Counseling Center Seminars (5 points each; you are limited to 25 points in this category)
For Chapel services, credit is granted only for the regular Wednesday services. Some special chapel programs may be listed as Cultural/Campus Wide events.
The schedule of Counseling Center Seminars will be distributed by your seminar leader.
| Grading Plan: |
Grading Scale
|
| Your SMC 101 grade will be calculated as follows: |
90-100 points A
|
| Workbook |
25 points |
80-89 points B
|
| Self-discovery activities |
15 points |
70-79 points C
|
| Attendance events |
60 points |
60-69 points D
|
|
|
0-59 points F
|
| 100 points total |
-------------- |
|
|
100 points total |
|
Your Discovering SMC 101 workbook contains a worksheet to help you keep track of points earned.
