_I
Freshman year course finally clears hurdles
By Christopher Tray
EDITOR
For those freshmen who may
struggle with the adjustment to
college life, the Department of
Academic Support Services is
currently offering a course to
aid in the transition to college.
The course, Freshman Year
lnquiry (FYI), was passed by
the Edinbonr llniversity
curriculunr comrnittee just llsl
spring. Many othcr universities
already offer this sorr of
freshman orientation class.
"As far as discussins the
APSCUF . . . continued from page I
that point," said Thomas S.
Giotto, SSHE's chief negotiator.
Compensation being frozen
for both summer school and
class overloads at the 1995 rate
were two additional concerns of
APSCUF.
For a strike to occur on the
part of the faculty union, there
are four steps that must be
taken.
First, The Legislative
Assembly must authorize a
strike authorization vote to be
taken among the faculty. This
step was completed in April.
process we had to go through in
order to get this course
approved, ten yerus of
perseverance pretty much sums
it up," said Gloria Furcron, an
Act l0l counselor with the
Department of Academic
Support Services and ao
instructor for the class.
FYI is a course that offers
incoming freshmen and transfer
students with less than 24
c:redits an opportunity to learn
about whirt it takes to be a
successful college studcnt.
"Basically, we try t<l provide
skills that will make
these
Secondly, by virtue of a
secret ballot, the faculty must
cast enough votes to authorize
the Executive Council to call a
strike. This vote will take place
on Monday, Sept. 27, and
Tuesday, Sept.28.
Third, the negotiations teanr
must inform the State Executive
Council that negotiations are at
an lmpasse.
And finally, the last step
involves the State Executive
Council actually calling a strike.
According to a campus-wide
e-mail sent out to Edinboro
Llniversity faculfy last week,
incoming freshmen more
effective as college students,"
said Carol Gleischner, another
Act l0l counselor who also
teaches the course.
Students are instructed on
how to delve into campus
resources, in addition to
learning study habits and
contemporary health issues.
Computing and library skills are
also taught, and the sharpening
of study skills and time
management are featured as
well.
"Basically, this coursc
provides an overview ol' what
APSCUF contends that rhc
State System docsn't bclicvc lhc
faculty has the whcrcwitlrll to
strike. It was also notctl irr tltc
in thc evcnt ol' a
e-mail that
strike, SSHE plans to kccp irll of'
its campuscs up anrl runrring,
with staffing prirrrirrily cotnirrg
from temporary cmployccs.
According to an Associatcd
Press article, howcvcr, SSI lE
spokesman Kenn Marslrall said
there are no plans to hirc
replacement faculty or rrssign
managers to teach in thc cvcnt
of a strike.
college is all about," said
Furcron. "We teach about the
ideas of success, time
management, listening skills in
and out of the classroom,
money management, healthy
decisions, stress, sexuality,
drugs, diversity, and basically
the setting of standards for
yourself to achieve personal
integrity."
"Ten years of
perseverance
pretty much
SUnS it Up."
_Gloria Furcron
Bruce Skolnick, coordinator
of the general studies program,
agrees that FYI is an absolute
necessity for those incoming
freshmen who have yet to
declare a major.
"Apart from the difficulty of
choosing a field of study," said
Skolnick, "FYI helps prepare
-these students to do so, simply
by providing them with some of
the essentials that will help
I
I
prepare them for a career. l
Those students who regularly
attend the course, participate,
and show a high level of interest
may, down the road, be more
skilled at managing their time
and resources than, perhaps
students who have not been
placed in the course."
Kelly Hughes, a freshman in
Skolnick's class, thinks the
course should be offered to all
incoming freshmen.
"This course deals with the
management of time and also
aids in giving you ways to
improve your studying,"
Hughes said. "I think it should
be offered to all incomins
freshman and not just those who
have yet to declare a major."
Srnce the course is beins
offered on a pilot basis, it ii
approved by the curriculum for
the next two years said
Skolnick.
Because the course is
prefaced with an 010 class
category, the three credits
gained from passing the course
do not count towards graduation
requirements; however, if the
course is taken with nine other
credits, students will still be
considered under full-time
status.