Freshman Seminar

SWU freshmen display their capstone Living in Community projects in the Campus Life Center. Above, Colicus Jones looks over the various projects on display. At right, Sigma Delta member Erica Picard grades one of her student's projects.

Freshman Seminar is an introductory course for promotion of “whole person” development connecting students to the SWU community.

Our Freshman Seminar course targets three key first-year issues: learning to think critically and developing strategies for academic success; becoming self aware by reflecting upon assumptions and beliefs about who you are and who you want to become, and lastly building effective relationships that result in genuine community.

Each Freshman Seminar has 15-25 students and is taught by a faculty mentor who is assisted by two peer leaders. Faculty mentors play an integral part in the lives of their first-year students. In addition to teaching Freshman Seminar, their job description also includes socializing with their students in out-of-class activities — tail-gating for SWU soccer games, picnics, Ultimate Frisbee, concert and coffee nights in Java City on campus or in downtown Greenville — just to name a few. They also meet 2-3 times with each of their students individually during the first semester to determine how each student is doing and to provide resources and intervention for those who need it.

The Freshman Seminar course is a requirement for all freshmen.