51°µÍø

First-year and gateway courses have been seen as one of the important places where new students first experience college-level demands.

Some students remain unaware of where to find academic help early in their time as undergraduates, and this is exactly where instructors in these courses can provide guidance to new students, whether new to the undergraduate experience or new to a field of study. More than just academic guidance can be developed in these courses.

51°µÍø in Four focuses on educating faculty and departmental leadership on the importance of pedagogical practices that reinforce student engagement and, ultimately, lead to better student learning outcomes and greater student retention.

Enhancement strategies

For each of the three 51°µÍø in Four pillars, we discussed our current practices in the plan and our expected enhanced practices. These enhancement strategies are outlined for the First-Year and Gateway Courses Pillar below.