University of Mobile - Student Success Center

Course Description for FS100:

Freshman Seminar exists to assist first-year students to make the transition from high school to college. This course seeks to enhance the learning experience by providing opportunities for students to develop the skills, values, behaviors, and attitudes necessary for success at the University of Mobile. Students will encounter a range of issues from both philosophical and practical perspectives. Topics such as the nature of the university, liberal arts, the purpose of knowledge as well as time management, study skills, and campus resources will be addressed.

What will you learn about while in
Freshman Seminar?

In your first week of class, you are going to be introduced to UM and its history. There are so many reasons to be proud of this distinctively Christian school! You will also learn about events and ways you can get involved on campus! Through all of these class sessions, you will have developed life long friendships –this class is your connection to meet students, staff and faculty at the University of Mobile.

By the end of your first week, you should have completed the College Student Inventory. Throughout the semester, you will be meeting with Success Mentors to discuss your results. The results from the CSI will be helpful to better understand your unique pattern of strengths and needs while in college. The CSI results will help Success Mentors link you to the services and resources you might need in order to succeed.

Throughout the semester, Dr. Mashburn, UM Professor of Philosophy, will meet with you as a freshman group. You will encounter a range of issues from both philosophical and practical perspectives. Topics to be discussed are such as the nature of the university, liberal arts, and the purpose of knowledge.

By the end of your first semester in college, you will have learned about important information to help you become a successful student, including time management, study skills, stress management, how to budget money, and how to choose a major.

We hope you enjoy your University of Mobile first-year experience!

See ya there!
The Staff at the Student Success Center
251-442-2292

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	“An advantage of Freshman Seminar is the exposure of new students to faculty whose interest and expertise might be in areas new to the students experience and begins to immediately broaden the students’ view of the world. Freshman Seminar allows many new students to meet and interact with professors that they might otherwise not.” Steve D. Carey scarey@mail.umobile.edu Associate Professor of Biology B.S., Salem College; M.S., University of Southern Mississippi
	"What’s great about Freshman Seminar is that it gives me an opportunity as a Professor to relate with the students one-on-one as they transition into their college experience. One topic the students were especially interested in covered budgeting money which was more comfortable for me to teach because it’s what I enjoy most." Rusty Roberts rroberts@mail.umobile.edu Assistant Professor of Accounting, B.S., University of Mobile; M.AC., University of South Alabama
	"I am looking forward to the experience." Dr. Susie Nelson snelson@mail.umobile.edu Assoc. Professor of Education B.S., M.S. Troy State University; Ed. S. University of West Alabama; Ed.D. University of West Florida
	“Freshman Seminar is a course that is beneficial for the transitioning of the student from dependence to independence. As students experience this transition they will learn how to manage their lives as independent individuals through the topics taught. It is a privilege to be a part of this process and to get to know the students personally.” Shirley Sutterfield shirleys@mail.umobile.edu Director of Student Retention, University of Mobile B.S., University of Mobile M.A., University of Mobile
	"I am looking forward to meeting and working with UM Freshmen! We will learn from each other all about Freshmen life at UM. This course will be beneficial to you in learning about the UM family and campus activities. FS 100 will be an interactive course to help you learn everything from managing your time to what it takes to be a successful college student." Mrs. Brenda Chastain bchastain@mail.umobile.edu Instructor in Education B.S. Troy University M. of Ed. University of West Alabama Ed. Specialist University of South Alabama
	Dr. John Talmage jtalmage@mail.umobile.edu Social & Behavioral Sciences Professor of Sociology
	"Life after high school can be a stressful experience. Freshman seminar can ease this stress by empowering you with a support system of fellow students and seasoned faculty members. I look forward to guiding you through the awesome experience of your first year in college." Mrs. Amy Taylor ataylor@mail.umobile.edu Business Administration Assistant Professor of Economics and Business
	Mrs. Kathryn Partin kpartin@mail.umobile.edu Instructor in Nursing
	"Freshman Seminar is a great way to maximize your skills as a student so you can get the most out of your UM experience. As a Freshman Seminar teacher and Director of Campus Ministries, I am looking forward to getting to know each of you and helping you through your college career." Neal Ledbetter neall@mail.umobile.edu Director of Campus Ministries B.S. Auburn University, M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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"Freshman Seminar taught me how to manage my time and my money. This was so important as an incoming freshman because I saw how important it was to manage my time and get my school work done first that I was able to spend time with friends and get what really needed to be done finished. Freshman Seminar also allowed me to be with a group of freshman who were going through the same transitions that I was."
Alana Swindler
Vocal Performance/Theatre Major
Lexington, South Carolina

“Last semester, because of my own high expectations, I was under a lot of pressure and stress. Freshman Seminar helped me learn how to manage my stress in productive and creative ways and to create realistic goals for myself.”
Michelle Hixon
Music Education
Selma, AL

"As a Freshman, attending Freshman Seminar helped me get my feet wet in the
school and it informed me about the different areas of administration and the areas on campus that were set up primarily for my benefit."
Matt Turner
Christian Studies Major
Prattville, Alabama

“In my Freshman Seminar class, we talked about real situations and issues that pertain to my life and what I was to expect in college and in the real world. I learned a lot!”
Chelsea Beck
Elemetary Education
Wilmer, Al

"I think that Freshman Seminar was a very important class to take my first semester out of high school. It helped me learn about the transition into college life especially with finances. So many college students spend unwisely and the course taught me how to budget."
Jared Freeman
Finance
Prattville, AL

"Freshman Seminar gave me the opportunity to relate with other freshmen who were going through the same transitions that I was going through. Gathering in a classroom setting with fellow students and a professor who was able to relate to our experiences, was both an encouragement and a blessing that taught me about organization skills, relationships, and the true University of Mobile freshman year experience."
Miles McCauley
Church Music
Montgomery, AL

"Freshman Seminar was a great class. Brian Boyle was my teacher and he made it fun and interactive. It was good to be reminded of topics such as how to manage my time and study effectively. It was also a great opportunity to get to know other freshmen."
Katelynd Branum
Undecided Major
Greenville, AL

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College Student Inventory
(CSI) Information:

What is the purpose for UM to have
their students take the CSI?

To provide information on an individualized level for each UM student.
To establish a relationship with students that communicates an interest in them as individuals.
To discuss the student’s unique pattern of strengths and needs.
To link students to the services they need in order to succeed at UM.
To facilitate a student’s growth and development while at UM.

Directions to begin taking the CSI:

Go to this website: https://studentsuccess.noellevitz.com
Type in the Username and Password: Your Student ID # is both the Username and Password (IMPORTANT: If your Student ID is 5 digits add a zero at the end. Example: If my Student ID is 98765, then my username and password is 987650)
Click on the link to take you to the College Student Inventory.
Begin! (There are more than 150 questions, so make sure you have at least 1 hour to complete it)

*Please make sure that you completely finish the inventory or you will not have any results!

What will happen after I complete the CSI?

After a student completes the CSI, the valuable results will be sent to the Student Success Center. The Counselor will then inform the student’s Freshman Seminar Instructor that they have completed it. The student will then receive CSI points for the FS class. There will also be a time that the student must set up an appointment with the Student Success Center during August or September to go over his/her CSI results (you will receive more information about this from your Freshman Seminar Instructor). This will be another set of points the student will earn for the FS class if they complete this assignment. IMPORTANT: These points count toward the student’s first grade for the FS100 course.

See you soon!