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University 101 Programs

Dan Friedman

Title: Assistant Vice President for University 101 Programs & the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

Email: friedman@sc.edu

Phone: 803-777-9506

Dan Friedman provides leadership for University 101 Programs and the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. University 101 Programs is an academic unit that offers six academic courses, including over 330 sections of the first-year seminar (UNIV 101), a career exploration and experiential learning seminar (UNIV 201), a residentially-based special topics seminar (UNIV 290) and a capstone seminar (UNIV 401). His major responsibilities include the recruitment, selection, training and support of 300+ instructors and 300+ peer/graduate leaders; providing high quality faculty development to support excellence in teaching; developing and assessing course content; supervising a professional and graduate staff; strategic planning; and representing the program to multiple constituencies.

Dan also has oversight of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, which is the trusted expert, internationally recognized leader, and clearinghouse for scholarship, policy, and best practice for all postsecondary student transitions. The NRC provides opportunities for the exchange of practical and scholarly information as well as the discussion of trends and issues in our field through the convening of conferences and online courses; publication of scholarly practice books, research reports, a peer-reviewed journal, guides, and newsletters; and generating, supporting, and disseminating research and scholarship.

Dan is an associated faculty member in the Higher Education Program in College of Education, where he teaches courses, advises students and serves on dissertation committees.

Prior to coming to the University of South Carolina, Dan served as Director of Freshman Seminar at Appalachian State University and Assistant Professor of Higher Education. He taught graduate courses on college finance, American higher education and organization and administration of higher education.

Dr. Friedman’s area of research has centered on the first-year experience, and he has made numerous presentations and published several books, articles, and monograph contributions on this topic. Dan has conducted a wide-range of assessment initiatives aimed at better understanding the efficacy of the first-year seminar. Dr. Friedman has served as an invited faculty of the Institute on First-Year Assessment and for the Institute on First-Year Seminar Leadership, both sponsored by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

He has also served as a faculty member and practicum advisor for the Kellogg Institute on Developmental Education and on SACS Accreditation Teams as the Lead Reviewer of Quality Enhancement Plans focused on learning communities and first-year seminars. In addition, Dan has consulted with several dozen institutions about the first-year seminar, learning communities, and the First-Year Experience. He is passionate about baseball, Bruce Springsteen, and spending time with his two daughters.

Doctor of Philosophy - Higher Education, 2004
University of Virginia 

Education Specialist - Higher Education, Administration, 2000
Emphasis on Teaching of Learning
Appalachian State University 

Master of Arts - Higher Education, Administration, 1998
Appalachian State University

Bachelor of Science - History, 1996
Appalachian State University

Friedman, D., Greene, C., & Skipper, T. (2022). From Educational Experiment to Standard Bearer: University 101 at the University of South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press.

Friedman, D. and Foote, S., & Weigel, D. (2022). Seminars for students on academic probation. In M. Dial (Ed.), Academic Recovery: Supporting Students on Academic Probation (pp tbd). Columbia, SC University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. 

Zhang, L., Irvin, M. J., & Friedman, D. B. (2022). Student Involvement as a Mediator of the Relationship of Peer Leaders in First-Year Seminars to Academic Achievement and Persistence. Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, 34(2), 83-110.

Friedman, D. and Greene, S. (2020). A model for pulling wisdom from group discussion. The Toolbox: A Teaching and Learning Resource for Instructors. Volume 19, Issue 1. Columbia, SC University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. 

Friedman, D., Winfield, J., & Hopkins, K. (2019). Developing instructors for a first-year seminar. Journal for Faculty Development. Volume 33, Number 2, (pp. 11-18).

Friedman, D. and Greene, S. (2019). Increasing the quality of the first-year seminar through greater curricular flexibility. E-Source Vol 16, No.2. Columbia, SC University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. 

Van Haren, C. & Friedman, D. (Eds.) (2018). Transitions. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina.

Lichterman, H., Friedman, D.B, Fallucca, A., & Steinas, J. (2016). Common courses: A developing linked course perspective. In L. Chism Schmidt and J. Graziano (Eds.), Building synergy for high impact educational initiatives: First-year seminars and learning communities (pp 139-149). Columbia, SC University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

Weigel, D. & Friedman, D. (Eds.) (2016).  Transitions. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina.

Friedman, D. (2014). Four ways to ensure your university app connects with students. Ecampus News: Technology news for today’s higher-ed leader. 

Friedman, D. (2012). The first-year seminar: Designing and assessing courses to support student learning and success: Vol 5. Assessing the first-year seminar. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

Sewell, M.E. & Friedman, D. (Eds.) (2012). Transitions: Building a new community. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina.

Friedman, D. & Marsh, E.G. (2009). What Type of First-Year Seminar is Most Effective? A Comparison of Thematic Seminars and College Transition/Success Seminars. Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition. Vol. 21, No. 1, (pp. 29-42).

Friedman, D. & Alexander, J. (2007). Investigating a first-year seminar as an anchor course in learning communities. Journal of the first-year experience and students in transition. Volume 18, No. 1, (pp 63-74).

Friedman, D. (2005). Appalachian State University. In B.F. Tobolowsky, B.E. Cox, & M.T. Wagner (Eds.), Exploring the evidence III: Reporting outcomes of first-year seminar (Monograph No. 42) (pp.13-17). Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. 

Friedman, D., Marsh, B., & Brantz, R. (2007). New connections: A handbook for Freshman Seminar, 5th Ed. Kendall-Hunt Publishers. 

Friedman, D. (2005). Assessing the First-Year Experience. In Implementing a student success course. CD-ROM. Mc-Graw-Hill. 

Authored two versions of the test bank for P.O.W.E.R. Learning Instructor Resource Manual, published by McGraw-Hill, 1999 and 2005.

  • Plenary Address on "The Power and Purpose of a First-Year Seminar" at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2022).
  • Invited faculty for 2-day workshop, Developing & Sustaining First-Year Seminars, at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2022). 
  • Preconference Workshop on "A Primer on the Power and Purpose of the First-Year Seminar" at the Annual Conference on the Frist-Year Experience (February 2020).
  • Invited faculty for Institute on Developing and Sustaining First-Year Seminars. Four presentations, including “Ensuring the Relevance & Excellence of the First-Year Seminar; “Using Peer Leaders”; “Recruiting and Developing Faculty” and “Assessing the First-Year Seminar” (June 2019).
  • "Ensuring the Relevance and Excellence of a First-Year seminar", Preconference Workshop at the Annual First-Year Experience Conference (February 2019).
  • "A Primer on Developing, Implementing, or Re-Envisioning a First-Year Seminar", Preconference Workshop at the Annual First-Year Experience Conference (February 2018).
  • "Engaging Students Through Active Learning and Meaningful Discussions" for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (December 2017). 
  • Invited faculty for First-Year Seminar Leadership Institute. Three presentations, including “Ensuring the Relevance & Excellence of the First-Year Seminar; “Using Peer Leaders”; and “Assessing the First-Year Seminar” (July 2017).
  • Preconference Workshop on “Assessing the First-Year Experience” at the Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (2010-2017).
  • Preconference workshop entitled “Ensuring the relevance and excellence of the first-year seminar” and invited concurrent session entitled “Using Action Research to Ensure the Relevance and Excellence of the First-Year Seminar”at the Arkansas Student Success Symposium(March 2014).
  • “Using Action Research to Ensure the Relevance and Excellence of the First-Year Experience”. Keynote Address at the NCCPA Research Symposium (February 2013).
  • “Utilizing and Sharing Assessment Results” and “Assessing the first-year seminar” at First-Year Seminar Leadership Institute (October 2009).
  • “Ensuring the relevance and excellence of your first-year seminar” and “Assessing the first-year seminar” at First-Year Seminar Leadership Institute (April 2009).
  • “Assessing First-Year Seminars for Quality and Relevance” at the Institute on First-Year Assessment (October 2008).
  • “Promoting greater success in college” to S.C. Commission on Higher Education (June 19, 2008).
  • Invited Faculty for First-Year Seminar Leadership Institute (April 13-15, 2008).
  • “Assessing STEM programs” for National Association of Multicultural Engineers (November 1, 2007).
  • “Assessing First-Year Seminars” webinar for Academic Impressions (September 2007).
  • Targeting Approaches to Developmental Education: First-Year Seminars and Learning Communities” and “Best Practices in First Year Seminars: Faculty Development and Assessment” at the Advanced Kellogg Institute (July 31 & August 1, 2007).
  • “Assessing the First-Year Seminar” at the Summer Institute on First-Year Assessment (June 11, 2007).
  • “Applied Assessment Techniques” at the Summer Institute on First-Year Assessment (June 27, 2006).
  • Recommendations for first-year seminars based on 50 years of practice. Annual Conference on the The First-Year Experience (February 2024; co-presented with John Gardner).
  • Effectively Developing and Supporting First-Year Seminar Instructors.  Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2022). 
  • Lessons Learned about the Efficacy of an Online First-Year Seminar. Annual Conference on the The First-Year Experience (February 2021).
  • The Gold Standard for Transition Courses: University 101 and 401. Students in Transition Conference (October 2020; Co-presented with John Gardner).
  • Effectively Developing and Supporting First-Year Seminar Instructors. Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2020).
  • Ongoing and Action-Oriented First-Year Seminar Program Assessment. Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2019).
  • Ensuring the Relevance & Excellence of the First-Year at the European First Year Experience Conference (June 2018).
  • Developing and Supporting Instructors at the Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2017).
  • Instructor Development: Foundational Building Blocks for First-Year Seminars at the International First-Year Experience Conference (June 2013).
  • Using Campus Partnerships to Enhance the First-Year Seminar at the 32nd Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2013).
  • Full Circle: Using Assessment to Improve Approaches to Faculty Development at the 31st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2012).
  • “Informing & Improving Our Approaches to Information Literacy” at the 30th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2011; Co-presented with R. Padgett & P. Millard).
  • “Ensuring Relevance Through Effective Course Review” at the 29th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2010; Co-presented with J. Latino & S. Bennett).
  • “Focusing on What Matters: Using assessment to create effective faculty development” at the 29th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2010; Co-presented with J. Latino & J. Powell).
  • “Integrating a Freshman Seminar into Learning Communities to Increase Academic Performance and Student Engagement” at the 25th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2006).
  • “Using the New York Times in a first-year seminar” – Panel presentation at the 25th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience (February 2006).
  • “Developing Momentum for Liberal Learning: Strategies and Structures for First Year Student Engagement” at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (January 2006).
  • “Using the Student Development Task and Lifestyle Assessment (SDTLA) for Individual and Program Assessment in First-Year Courses” at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2005).
  • “Improving Summer Bridge Programs” at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience. (February 2005).
  • “Smart Classroom: An exciting environment for teaching and learning” at the 19th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2000).
  • “Expanding Campus Connections: A Collaborative Training Model for Freshman Seminar Faculty and Freshman Interest Groups Teams” at the 19th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (February 2000).
  • “Summer Preview and Freshman Summer Readings: Two Strategies for Building Academic Communities Before Fall Semester” at 18th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience in (February 22, 1999).

 

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