FYLI Course Certification

To begin the FYLI certification process, instructors interested in leading the FYLI development effort for the course should contact both their department chair and the FYLI co-chairs to discuss options for pursuing FYLI certification.  Key course faculty, such as course coordinators, should also be part of the early discussions.  The FYLI development leaders are typically one or two individuals who either coordinate the course or play a large role in its delivery.

Certification begins with a series of development meetings, during which the development leaders meet with FYLI discussion facilitators to talk over possible responses to the FYLI discussion questions.  Usually, 2 to 4 development meetings are required for discussion of all the questions.  It is important to note that these discussion meetings are the core component of the certification process, as they shape the written responses submitted later and provide important opportunities to identify strategies the course either currently uses or will use to meet FYLI goals.

Certification takes place after development leaders submit written responses to the discussion questions using the FYLI Survey form, and submit copies of syllabi and other relevant course documentation to the FYLI facilitators.

Project plans for certification are shaped by course faculty/course coordinator’s responses to detailed questions that query current and future practices as they relate to FYLI targets.

The First Year Learning Initiative was developed by a leadership group of advisors and course coordinators.

After course faculty have made course changes, they submit the completed questionnaires, checklist, revised syllabi, course materials, etc. to representatives of the FYLI leadership for review.  Courses that receive FYLI certification should display the FYLI course logo prominently on their course syllabus, Blackboard course shell, and department web site.

Courses that meet the requirements outlined in the FYLI Certification Process will be certified as FYLI courses. Syllabi and Blackboard Learn course shells for certified courses should prominently feature the FYLI course stamp so that students can readily identify the courses that meet FYLI standards and will help them fulfill their first-year course requirements.

Faculty teaching FYLI courses will sign a memorandum of understanding from the Vice Provost for Personnel that creates a risk-free zone for faculty teaching FYLI courses.  The MOU instructs department and college promotion and tenure committees to view positively the teaching and scholarship activities related to the faculty member’s FYLI course, with all student evaluations to be considered formatively and acknowledging that participating faculty are addressing important institutional priorities.

As the Initiative develops, FYLI coordinators and participating faculty will form a community of practice, in which members support one another in their efforts while also sharing knowledge developed through their projects.  It is expected that all participating coordinators and faculty will attend and present at community of practice events.