First-Year Experience

The First-Year Seminar course is an essential part of the First-Year Experience. All full-time first-year students are required to take this course during their first semester at the university. The course is taught by faculty representing the various majors at WPUNJ and designed to assist the first-year students with their transition form high school to college. The First-Year Seminar curriculum includes topics such as: Academic Integrity, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Student Strategies, Listening, Note Taking and Test Taking Skills. They discuss and learn appropriate social skills and they participate in a library/research component that provides an excellent introduction to the technology used in our modern on-campus facilities.

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:

• To familiarize students with WPUNJ policies and procedures.
• To familiarize students with WPUNJ resources and support services.
• To assist students with advisement and registration processes.
• To introduce students to information literacy and basic academic skills.
• To foster verbal and written communication skills.
• To provide information necessary for personal wellness.
• To develop students’ awareness of their ability to work within a diverse environment.

Student learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Locate and access WPUNJ policies and procedure. Locate and access WPUNJ resources and support services.
• Select courses, prepare a course schedule, and register for classes
• Find, evaluate, and communicate information in oral and written form
• Utilize various study skill techniques.
• Utilize techniques to manage time effectively.
• Utilize a syllabus to achieve course outcomes.
• Be cognizant of sexual and health issues common on a college campus.
• Abide by the academic integrity policy and recognize issues related to plagiarism and cheating.
• Work in groups, collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds/viewpoints