Fox Cities News

First-Year Studies, a staple of the academic experience at Lawrence University since 1945, continues to evolve. Beginning in Fall 2024, the course required for all first-year students will undergo a significant realignment aimed at making the program more focused while maintaining its intent of providing a collective introduction to the liberal arts.

The changes stem from recommendations made by a faculty task force that began its work in spring 2022 and were approved in a faculty vote in May 2023. The revamped course, now lasting one term instead of two, will have a theme that stitches together the seven works to be studied. "Water" will be the theme for the next four years before giving way to a new theme. The writing curriculum has been reshaped with a sequence aimed at better preparing students for effective analytical writing.

"The First-Year Studies program has undergone many changes since its initial introduction in 1945," said First-Year Studies Task Force Chair Scott Corry, Patricia Hamar Boldt Professor of Liberal Studies and professor of mathematics. "I, and many other faculty, felt that the time has come for substantial rethinking of the course. A guiding principle for me was to provide more coherence to the course, moving away from the current model in which the primary requirement is to feature works from all divisions of the university with little planning for connections between the works."

The works selected for the water-focused thematic course beginning this fall include:

- USGS Water Cycle Diagram (basic science of the hydrologic cycle)

- Death and Life of the Great Lakes (by Dan Egan)

- Flood narratives (Gilgamesh and Noah)

- Selection of music in the Delta Blues tradition (various musical artists)

- Blood Dazzler (poetry by Patricia Smith)

- The Interesting Narrative (autobiography of Olaudah Equiano)

- Rising: New Dispatches from the American Shore (by Elizabeth Rush)

Since its establishment almost 80 years ago, First-Year Studies (formerly Freshman Studies) syllabus has been continuously revised to introduce a changing student body to the intellectual challenges of a liberal arts education and to embrace interdisciplinary thinking. The course has gone through many iterations over the years. The earliest version included a film, laboratory component, participation in music, art or creative writing along with classic works by Plato, Machiavelli, and Thoreau. It was scaled back in late 1960s then discontinued for several years mid-1970s before returning in 1978. Major revisions occurred again in 1986, 1997 and early 2000s.

Jeff Clark on choosing water as a theme: "Lawrence is situated on Fox River and is in Great Lakes drainage basin—it is intensely local yet at same time global."

The new version marks first time it has been designed with thematic structure.

"We surveyed students and faculty and used responses to inform our work," Corry said. "We were committed to retaining common curriculum for all sections as well as selecting works from variety disciplines diversity viewpoints."

Jeff Clark professor geosciences will serve director during this iteration.

"Lawrence situated Fox River Great Lakes drainage basin—intensely local yet global," Clark said water theme.

"Water essential life creates destroys served source artistic inspiration stirring awe wonder millennia."

During your first term on campus you’ll study works across disciplines mediums unifying experience every first-year student Lawrence.

As task force explored included received more than 60 suggestions faculty.

"The committee worked balance geographical temporal perspectives different fields study voices forms media chose pieces interesting approachable work well together," Clark said.

While change can bring apprehension also brings excitement structured developmental writing sequence focuses skills analysis starting summary progressing thesis-based essay.

"Clear writing clear thinking making connection developing skill lead broad success undergraduate career," Clark said formal assignments informal writing reflection allow try ideas low-stakes environment challenge recognize growth writers thinkers."

Other aspects remain familiar share small group classmates each section led professor different discipline entire class gather Memorial Chapel periodically listen experts share experiences connected unifying varied contemporary poetry ancient manuscripts environmental journalism music.

"I will teaching section look forward seeing come together," Corry said.