Disappearing Task Force: Evaluation of the First-Year Experience

Report to Academic Council Willamette University 23 August 2004 CONTENTS Parts I and II (Adobe Acrobat files) I. An account of the process the DTF engaged 1 II. A discussion of the options for Willamette University     Introduction 4   Common Syllabus Model 5   Topical Seminar Model 8   History Matters 12   Administering a First-Year Program 14   Residential Components of First-Year Seminars 17   Appendices (Adobe Acrobat files) i. Data from 52 comparison institutions ii. Data from 10 institutions studied in depth iii. Notes on phone conversations with program administrators iv. Representative First-Year Seminar titles and brief descriptions v. An annotated list of resources on the First-Year Experience   TASK FORCE MEMBERS Mark Conliffe Marva Duerksen Richard Ellis Gretchen Flesher Moon, Chair Colin Starr Peter Wogan