In the final episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Sara Chilton, Lauren Feeley, Megan McMechen, and Lucy Sneader discuss best practices for designing and implementing first year seminars that foster academic success, build a sense of belonging and equip students with the skills they need to thrive in college.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the sixth episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Sara Chilton speaks with Mary about her experience taking a first-year seminar as an international student.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the fifth episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Sara Chilton synthesizes research on how international students are influenced by first-year seminars.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the fourth episode in our series, Lauren Feeley interviews Megan McMechen about her experience participating in a first-year seminar as a first-generation college student at a large state school.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the third episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Lauren Feeley shares recent research on how first year seminars can specifically impact first-generation college students.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the second episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Lucy Sneader shares recent research on first-year seminars as high-impact educational experiences.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

In the first episode of our special series on first-year seminars, Megan McMechen discusses what first-year seminars are and why they qualify as a high-impact educational practice.

In this special series, students in Elon University’s Masters of Higher Education program explore why first-year seminars are considered high-impact educational practices.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episode and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning (www.CenterForEngagedLearning.org).

Episodes in this special series were developed by Sara Chilton, Lauren Feeley, Megan McMechen, and Lucy Sneader.

Nolan Schultheis edited the episodes and created the show art.

Music (“Bali”) by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net.

The series is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning.

In a 2021 survey conducted by the Elon University Poll and the Center for Engaged Learning, 54.5% of recent college graduates indicated that they’d encountered meaningful relationships with faculty or staff multiple times, and 69.1% reported multiple meaningful relationships with other students. Unfortunately, 16.4% reported never developing those relationships with faculty or staff, and 9.8% never developed meaningful relationships with peers. How can students make connections in college?

Our panelists - Isis Artze-Vega (Valencia College), Oscar R. Miranda Tapia (North Carolina State University), and Peter Felten (Elon University) - share strategies from their new book (with Leo Lambert), Connections are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education. Read the book for free on Project Muse, thanks to a grant from the Gardner Institute. Explore teaching and faculty development resources related to the book on the Center's website.

This episode is co-hosted by Jessie L. Moore, Director of Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning, and Sydni Brown, a senior at Elon University who is majoring in Communications Design and Strategic Communications. Making College “Worth It” is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning.

Originally released as Making College "Worth It" Season 1, Episode 2.

In a 2021 national survey of recent college graduates in the U.S., young professionals indicated that writing was very important to their daily lives, but only 80% reported developing the writing skills they needed while in college. How can college students prepare for writing they'll encounter in the workplace?

Our panelists - Stephen Macharia (Swathmore University, Kenya), Amanda Sturgill (Elon University, U.S.), and Neil Baird (Bowling Green State University, U.S.) - share their international research on young professional's writing experiences. They offer tips for students on how to make the most of college experiences to prepare for workplace writing, and they share recommendations for university faculty and staff across the university on supporting students' writing development.

This episode is co-hosted by Jessie L. Moore, Director of Elon University's Center for Engaged Learning, and Sydni Brown, a senior at Elon University. Making College "Worth It" is produced by Elon University's Center for Engaged Learning.

Originally released as Making College "Worth It" Season 1, Episode 1.