General Description: Service can be displayed through a variety of measures, from participation in student activities to involvement in research and scholarship. Students will work closely with an honors advisor and a current honors student leader to develop an action plan for university service. Students will discover how to find and apply for scholarships and awards, internships, study abroad programs, research opportunities, and leadership and service projects. Students will get to know the inner-workings of the university and discover available resources and opportunities, all while working with other highly motivated honors students. Finally, they will begin developing a portfolio to display the skills and experiences gained through these activities. This class is limited to 20 students.

Syllabus

Text for Class: Honors Freshman Experience Handbook developed by Melissa Johnson

Grading Policies: 90-100 (A); 87-89 (B+); 80-86 B; 77-79 (C+); 70-76 (C); 67-69 (D+); 60-66 (D); Below 59 (E). A grade of Incomplete (I) will not be issued under any circumstance.

Each assignment adds up to 100 total points

Attendance and Participation: 15 points

Blog postings: 10 points
10 discussion topics will be assigned throughout the semester on the class blog. Most topics will be posted by the instructors based on class discussions or other items of current interest. Each discussion posting will be worth 1 point per topic

Class community service project: 10 points
Our entire class will be volunteering with a community agency this semester. We will have more information about the date/time of our project later in the semester.

Gator Adventure Project: 5 points
At the beginning of the semester, you will partner with another class member to participate in the Gator Adventure Project. Each week a new pair will receive the class Gator. It is your responsibility to take the Gator to a location on campus that every UF student should know about. You must have a picture taken with the Gator at that location, and the next week in class you will have 5 minutes to present that location to the rest of the class. You must describe where you took the Gator, why that location is important for students, and any other interesting aspects of the trip. Feel free to share brochures or fliers from that location. You'll also e-mail your picture and description to Melissa before class to be displayed on the class blog.

Meeting/Activity with Instructor: 5 points
Meeting/Activity with Peer Leader: 5 points
The purpose of this assignment is to get to know your Instructor and Peer Leader and for them to get to know you outside of the classroom. You can set up a 15-minute appointment, visit during office hours, have lunch or coffee, attend an event on campus together...your choice.

Capstone Portfolio: 50 points
The FYF experience is about assisting you in your transition to UF by connecting and engaging you in the UF community. On the last day of class you will turn in your FYF Portfolio highlighting your first semester. Your portfolio should be submitted in a folder or thin notebook. You will have 3 sections in the portfolio--career/leadership, academics, and personal--plus an intro and conclusion.

Introduction: ½ - 1pg intro to portfolio, tying together different components.

Career/Leadership: 500 word personal statement, resume, and 1 additional assignment from list: Interview an officer in a student organization you are interested in joining and write a 1-2 pg paper; interview someone working in the field you are interested in pursuing as a career and write a 1-2 pg paper; attend the Career Showcase and write a 1-2 pg paper about what you observed and your action plan to pursue future internships or employment.

Academic: Faculty interview, degree audit, and 1 additional assignment from list: Include a copy of your best work from your favorite class and include a 1pg paper on the importance of that work; select a second major that you might be interested in pursuing and complete the Dual Degree/Double Major Worksheet; look at research opportunities available for undergraduates and write a 1-2 pg paper about your research interests and your action plan to seek those opportunities.

Personal: Collect photos from 7 out of 10 possible events and include a description of each, and 2 additional assignments from list: Write a 1-2 pg paper about the leisure interests you have pursued this semester; describe a personal challenge you have met recently in a 1-2 pg paper; include a 2 pg reflection of a civic issue you are passionate about either in Gainesville or back at home; explore an area of Gainesville you are unfamiliar with and write a 1-2 pg review of a local restaurant or attraction.

Conclusion: 2-3 pg final reflection. This reflection should include your action plan for your undergraduate career at UF. Which of the undergraduate opportunities (service, leadership, study abroad, internships, research) are you interested in pursuing? How do you plan to pursue them? What else would you like to accomplish at UF? What do you feel like you have accomplished so far?