This week I invited my freshman students from last fall to meet for pizza.
I wasn’t sure how many would show up: we are a commuting campus,
and I had not seen many since we parted in December. Much to my
surprise, about half of the class showed up (12 of 24; 8 females and 4 males)
Three students excused themselves due to work.
The reunion was joyful. Some students are taking classes together this semester.
Others have established long-term friendships. Those who had not met since fall
seemed animated chatting with each other. Several expressed that they
were not enjoying college: tough classes; difficult profesors; non-interesting
courses. One mentioned that he is considering to drop college; the top
student said that she is transferring to a college closer to home.
All of them are woking at least 15 hours per week; a couple work 35 hours.
I asked students about the seminar experience last term, and benefits of the
IF discussions. Most voted that I keep them for next term, but address more
varied topics. None could tell me what skills they had gained from it. One
suggested that I find ways of making everyone participate in the small groups.
Although the insights were brief, they suggest that next term I have to
make a better job helping them expand topics; monitor more closely
the group dynamics and encourage non-participants; articulate more
clearly (raise awareness of) the benefits the might derive from IF.
2 Comments
Maria: Reunions are good devices for checking in and tracking impressions over time. I’m not sure that it would work in the academic environment, but I found my project participants more reflective after 3 years away from the project than after a one year interval. But they were really involved and lots had happened policy-wise in the area. DB
This is very interesting, Maria. I think that, though the students can not yet say what skills they gained from the IF seminar, it will likely prove to be that the biggest gain was the connections they made with one another and with you– the fact that many continue to take classes together and/or have even become good friends is intriguing. This would likely be the heart and soul of what IF would add to freshmen seminars: that bond that allows for a network that helps students (and probably especially students who do not have parents that went to college) to navigate a successful college experience. I would strongly encourage that you try to have more reunions with this group– we would be very interested in how things go for them and would, I’m sure (though you’d want to talk with the IDC), be willing to spring for a meal around which you all can gather. Kudos!