Hall-Based Courses Area-Based Courses Science Support Fellows
Dear Students (both newcomers and returners),
In the Dickinson Community, the “original community”, we understand that learning does not stop when you go out of the classroom door. In fact, many of your most formative experiences will take place right here in the residential community. As Faculty Master, it is my role to coordinate the Living-Learning aspects of Dickinson Community. We have a variety of opportunities for you to make this a true “learning community”.
First of all, in Fall 2009, we will have two courses with sections designated only for students living in Digman Hall. In these hall-based courses every student in your section lives in your building so you get to know them quickly and it’s easy to set up study groups and outside-of-class work sessions. The discussion sections for these courses meet in the study lounge, which has a living room atmosphere, and the TAs for the courses hold their office hours in the hall. The RAs will also plan programs in support of these courses. The Fall 2009 Digman-only courses are:
· Political Science 117 – International Politics (Gen Ed "G" or "N")– taught by Pat Regan (a Dickinson Fellow).
o Lecture TR 10:05-11:30; Section A10 R 7:00-8:00pm (25 students)
· Philosophy 148A – Medical Ethics (GenEd “H”*) – taught by Anna Gotlib
o Lecture MW 8:30 – 9:30; Section A01 F 8:30 – 9:30 (24 students)
If you are interested in one or both of these hall-based courses, you need to indicate that on your housing application. Once this is processed, you will know that you will be living in Digman Hall and we will contact you to get you signed into your chosen course(s) prior to orientation. (Back to Top)
Next, we will offer a variety of courses open only to students living in Dickinson Community. While the students in these courses won’t all live in the same hall, they will all live nearby, eat in the same dining hall, participate in the same community events, etc. In some cases, the sections will meet in the area. In general the TA will hold office hours in Dickinson. In all cases, you will be encouraged to form study groups among Dickinson friends in the same course section and the RAs will design programs to support these courses. For Fall 2009 these area-based courses, open to any Dickinson student, are:
· Philosophy 146 – Law and Justice (GenEd “H”) – taught by Charles Goodman
o Lecture TR 10:05 – 11:30; Section A04 F 10:50-11:50 (24 students)
· Geology 114 – The Earth’s Dynamic Interior (GenEd “L”) – taught by me, Jeff Barker. This is a lab science course designed for non-science students. I will teach this lab section myself in the Libby Tucker Academic Center in Rafuse Hall.
o Lecture MWF 1:10 – 2:10; Lab A50 M 3:30 – 5:30 (20 students)
· WRIT 111 – Coming to Voice (GenEd “J”, which satisfies both “C” and “O”)
o Section 08, TR 10:05-11:30 (16 students)
o Section 11, TR 8:30-9:55 (16 students)
To register for these Dickinson area-based courses, simply select the appropriate section when registering for courses at orientation or pre-registration. We will hold spaces in each of these courses so that they are not filled before then. (Back to Top)
Finally, for those of you taking the large, introductory science courses CHEM 107, BIOL 117 or BIOL 118, we have arranged weekly, free tutoring sessions to be held the day before recitation section meetings, when quizzes are given and homework assignments are due. These tutoring sessions will be open to students living in Dickinson, but registered for any section of these courses. In addition to getting help on course content and assignments, these sessions offer an excellent opportunity to meet others in the course and to set up study groups. This is one important way to make those large classes feel smaller. Once again, the RAs will design programs in the residence halls in support of these courses as well. (Back to Top)
An important aspect of our Dickinson “learning community” is our Fellows program. These are members of the University faculty and staff, some of whom are Dickinson alumni, who have demonstrated an interest in interacting with Dickinson students. This lets you get to know your professors as people outside of the classroom, and also lets them get to know the real you. University President Lois DeFleur is one of our Fellows and she often eats lunch at the Dickinson Dining Hall. Throughout the year we will plan a variety of opportunities for you to interact with the Fellows. These include informal lunches or dinners in the Dining Hall, RA programs and Dickinson Town Council events. (Back to Top)
If you have any questions about Dickinson’s “learning community” please feel free to contact me by email or by phone through the community office, or drop by my office in O’Connor Hall.
Your Faculty Master,
Jeff Barker
(607) 777-2826
* General Education requirements include one course each in Composition (C) and Oral Communication (O), which can be satisfied with a single Joint (J) course, one course each in Humanities (H), Global Interdependencies (G), Laboratory Science (L), Math and Reasoning (M), Pluralism (P), Social Science (N) and Aesthetics (A). In addition there are Foreign Language and Health/Wellness requirements.
Students who have a good idea of their intended major are well advised to take one or two courses toward that major while beginning to satisfy General Education requirements. This not only keeps you on schedule toward graduation, but also helps you maintain your own interest and motivation in your courses. (Back to Top)
