For Faculty

Information for Faculty

Information for Faculty

A First-Year Seminar is a small-group, discussion-based course open to first-years only. It is designed to intensify the intellectual experience of the first College year by allowing students to work closely with one faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. The seminar format frees both instructors and students from the usual constraints of a lecture course, such as exams and letter grades.

 

 

FAQs

Are there waiting lists for seminars?

No. All seminars with openings are posted on our website after the algorithm is run, and we encourage first-years to email you directly for placement in your seminar. You may accept or decline additional students at your discretion until the Course Registration Deadline.

Do first-year seminars meet during Reading Period?

Classes may not be held during Reading Period unless the make-up class is due to weather or other emergencies. But Sections and review sessions may take place during Reading Period as long as there is no new material presented.

Do you offer suggestions or feedback for faculty about teaching first-year?

Absolutely. Please feel free to contact our Director, Ofrit Liviatan with any queries. The Bok Center for Teaching and Learning also offers opportunities for current and prospective instructors to learn more about teaching in the First-Year Seminar Program. Finally, we will be inviting instructors to get together for feedback sessions to discuss questions and observations about the Program and about teaching first-year students.

How do I grade my seminar? When is my grade sheet due?

A first-year seminar is always graded SAT/UNS only. It may not be audited. The grade of Satisfactory includes letter grades from A to C-. The grade of Unsatisfactory represents work below C- and is considered a failing grade. Students who neglect the work of the seminar or who do not perform satisfactorily will be excluded from the seminar and/or denied credit. We also ask that you submit midterm grades when you receive a prompt to do so from the Registrar's Office, about six weeks into the term. The final grade sheet is always due via the online grading portal on the date specified by the... Read more about How do I grade my seminar? When is my grade sheet due?

How do I propose a First-Year Seminar?

Please go to "For Faculty" > "Propose a Seminar" section in the navigation for information and submission deadlines. Committee meetings are held during the spring term to review proposals for the following academic year.

How do I reserve library books or post online course packs?

Requests for reserves should be done through the Canvas course website. Lamont Library is the undergraduate library where books for seminars may be put on reserve. Harvard College Library Research Services also provides customized library classes and/or web-based library research guides developed in collaboration with first-year seminar faculty. Please contact Sarah DeMott, Research Librarian, Harvard College Library (sarah_demott@harvard.edu or 617-496-4226) with any questions about library services for first-year seminars.

How is admission to a First-Year Seminar determined?

All first-year may apply to as many seminars as they wish, although they may enroll in only one seminar per semester. Seminar placement is ultimately done by a matching algorithm that is run after all applications have been submitted. However, different factors influence the algorithm’s outcome: instructors can select or deny students based on their essays and other relevant information; and student rankings and preferences are also taken into consideration.

How late may I set the due date for the final assignment? May I grant a first-year an extension?

All assignments must be scheduled with due dates prior to the start of the Final Examination period. Final papers, take-home exams, projects, presentations, and other culminating course assignments may be due after the end of regular classes on or before the day of each seminar’s assigned Exam/Final Deadline Group. This date can be found in the seminar listing in the online My.Harvard course catalog.

Final projects that include individual or group presentations may be scheduled only after the fourth day of Reading Period and may extend...

Read more about How late may I set the due date for the final assignment? May I grant a first-year an extension?

May I hire a CA or a TF to assist me?

Because the instructor plays an important mentoring role in small-group instruction, a First-Year seminar is not provided with additional teaching staff. However, seminars with significant hours of science lab or studio art may request the hire of an Undergraduate Course Assistant or a Graduate Teaching Fellow to assist with course preparation. Please contact Toni Trainor at 617-496-3993 or firstyearseminarprogram@fas.harvard.edu for advice on your request. Read more about May I hire a CA or a TF to assist me?

May I set a prerequisite?

Some seminars, because of their specialized nature, require particular qualifications or appropriate academic background, and this fact should be specified in the course description. However, most instructors set no prerequisites other than an interest in the subject. 

May I take auditors?

No, a first-year seminar is a small, limited enrollment course that may not be audited.

What is a First-Year Seminar?

A First-Year Seminar is a small-group, discussion-based course open to first-year students only. It is designed to intensify the intellectual experience of first-year students by allowing first-year to work closely with one faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. The seminar format frees both instructor and students from the usual constraints of a lecture course, such as exams and letter grades.

When, where, and how often do first-year seminars meet?

First-Year Seminars meet once a week for 2-3 hours. Ladder and tenured FAS faculty may not schedule a course meeting on Tuesday afternoons between 4-5:30 PM, the time designated for faculty meetings. Seminars may meet in department rooms by agreement or our office will request a room from the Harvard Classrooms Office.

According to FAS schedule change legislation, these...

Read more about When, where, and how often do first-year seminars meet?

Who do I ask about copyright issues?

If faculty have any copyright questions in relation to their First-Year Seminar, there is a program in the library especially designed to help with those questions: the Copyright First Responders. Emily Bell, Research Librarian in Lamont Library, can be reached through emilybell@fas.harvard.edu or phone, 617-496-9988. The Copyright First Responders have received in-depth training to be able to answer exactly these kind of questions.

Who is eligible to teach a First-Year Seminar?

All First-Year Seminar instructors must hold an active Harvard University teaching appointment. Instructors in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences must hold a teaching appointment at the rank of Lecturer or above. Faculty from other Harvard schools must hold an appointment of Assistant Professor or above, including Clinical Professor. Emeriti Faculty and FAS Visiting Professors are also eligible to teach seminars. At this time, Preceptors, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Visiting Fellows, Adjunct Faculty and other research (non-teaching) appointments or supervised (non-faculty) appointments are not... Read more about Who is eligible to teach a First-Year Seminar?

Who reviews my proposal?

The Faculty of the Committee on First-Year Seminars meets throughout the spring to review all proposals. 

More Questions?


1414 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor,
located in the Bank of America building next to the Coop
(use HUID to access the elevator)
Email: firstyearseminarprogram@fas.harvard.edu
Tel: 617-495-1523