new course name and content

Beginning the Academic Journey Orientation Course
(formerly known as FYI: First Year Information Course)

Beginning the Academic Journey (BAJ) course is taken the first semester on campus, featuring interactive classes, that meet once a week and provide critical thinking skills to help students succeed. First year students will build connections with the university community through inquiry, participation, and problem solving; investigation of disciplines; and, identification of campus and community resources for academic success and personal development.

Common for all first year students to the University:

* Describe why they are here and what they hope to gain by earning a college degree at UT;
* Demonstrate academic citizenship within the university community;
* Identify campus/community resources which are relevant to achieving their goals;
* Make connections with campus and community resources which support their academic success and personal development; and,
* College- or discipline-specific information as defined by the offering unit.

Three (3) of the following five will be posted to e-Folio as part of the Beginning the Academic Journey orientation course:

1. A personal, academic mission statement;
2. A plan covering at least two years which moves the student toward stated academic and personal goals;
3. An analysis or reflection on a new experience in the university or larger community environment;
4. Evidence of students' knowledge/use of key campus and community resources;
5. A document, power point, video, photographs, or other evidence of students' connectedness to some aspect of UT community