First Lecture of the 2024 First-Year Studies Lecture Series

Authors

Bill Carrothers, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Jose Encarnacion, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Janet Planet
Bart De Stasio, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Jessica Ryan
Emily Tyner, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Document Type

Lecture

Lecture Date

9-23-2024

Abstract

First-Year Studies, a staple of the academic experience at Lawrence University since 1945, continues to evolve. Beginning in Fall 2024, the course required for all first-year students will undergo a significant realignment, all aimed at making the program more focused while keeping its intent of a collective introduction to the liberal arts.

The changes stem from recommendations made by a faculty task force that began its work in spring of 2022. It was approved in a faculty vote in May 2023. The revamped course, now lasting one term instead of two, will have a theme that stitches together the seven works to be studied. “Water” will be the theme for the next four years, then give way to a new theme. The writing curriculum has been reshaped with a sequence aimed at better preparing students for effective analytical writing.

Works covered in this lecture: Homeless Blues by Bessie Smith (Delta Blues Tradition) and Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

Recommended Citation

Carrothers, Bill; Encarnacion, Jose; Planet, Janet; De Stasio, Bart; Ryan, Jessica; and Tyner, Emily, "First Lecture of the 2024 First-Year Studies Lecture Series" (2024). First-Year Studies Lectures. 252.
https://lux.lawrence.edu/frst_lectures/252