
Since it was created in December, the first-year experience task force has moved out of the preliminary and research and development phases and will now be moving towards drafting an action plan.
Chaired by David McMurray, vice president of student affairs, and Deborah MacLatchy, vice president of academic and provost, the task force was formed with the aim of bringing a more comprehensive approach to considering the experience the university creates for first-year students.
โThe first-year experience is well done, but itโs not as cohesive as weโd like it to be. There are some gaps,โ McMurray explained. โAnd instead of doing that one-off, we want to make sure that things are looked at in a full, comprehensive view so that we can finalize an excellent program going forward.โ
McMurray reviewed the progress that the task force has made since December and their plan going into the summer and new school year. The preliminary phase involved setting the foundation of the project: establishing a mandate, guiding principles and looking at first-year skills, competencies and learning outcomes. From there, the task force moved into the research and development phase, focusing on four things.
โThe first, was thereโs an annual international conference on the first-year experience,โ explained McMurray. โSo we sent a small team to that conference to do a wide sweep of all of the latest trends, technologies, programs and approaches on the first year.โ
Additionally, three research and development committees were formalized from the task force: an internal research group, an external research group and a program audit and inventory group.
โI know weโre all excited,โ he said. โWe split up in these groups and I was involved with the group three that I mentioned. People were really excited about the kinds of things that weโve already got on board, but thereโs so much more that we can do.โ
The information gathered by each group will be presented at the next meeting โ which will be taking place later this monthโ and used to draft an action plan.
โItโll basically be a first shot at a more comprehensive, intensive focus on the first-year experience,โ McMurray said. โAnd weโll want to circulate that widely to the Laurier community in both Waterloo and Brantford to get feedback from everyone โ from students, from faculty, from staff and from alumni.โ
The drafting and circulation will take place over the summer and into the fall term when students have returned to campus.
Their intent from here, according to McMurray, is to โ[move] towards a final recommendation in late fall, so that [theyโre] ready to go for the 2014-15 yearโ.
โItโs a long process because thereโs a lot to do,โ he continued. โThereโs a lot of eagerness to get that draft out. I think when we do weโll be very well prepared and the document will be one that will excite the entire campus community.โ
Annie Constantinescu , WLU Studentsโ Union president and CEO, also commented on the lengthiness of the process.
โI think weโre being very diligent in the process. Yes, itโs very long and extensive,โ she said. โ[But] I think itโs good that we are being extensive, because itโs one of those things that if youโre going to do it you might as well do it well and take the time.โ
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