Dear Colleagues,
You can help students become active members of UC Berkeley's intellectual community by teaching one of Berkeley’s Freshman and Sophomore Seminars in the fall. Your colleagues who have taught in the program will attest to how rewarding it is to interact directly with students, especially in the fall when so many new students are eager to be here and engage with you around topics of mutual interest.
Freshman and Sophomore Seminars provide an unparalleled opportunity for faculty from across campus to explore a scholarly topic with small groups of lower division students. Through teaching a seminar, you can give students an early introduction to research and scholarship while inspiring student inquiry, creativity, and discovery. Seminars are offered in a variety of formats and can be about any topic you wish to explore, including emerging research topics and even interests outside of your traditional focus.
If you are interested in teaching a seminar, please let your department chair and scheduler know, and then submit a Faculty Participation Form by Friday, February 26, 2021. Senate faculty members who teach a Freshman and Sophomore Seminar as an overload will receive a $3,000 grant that can be used for anything related to their teaching or research.
To receive more information about Freshman and Sophomore Seminars or just brainstorm topic ideas, contact Alix Schwartz at alix@berkeley.edu.
Sincerely,
Catherine P. Koshland
Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education
This message sent to UC Berkeley Academic Senate Faculty and Emeriti.