Student Engagement Initiatives

Linda Krzykowski, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement

The Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education works to provide opportunities and pathways for students to be active and engaged in their studies both inside and outside the classroom. Students find many different ways to connect with their professors, including:

• Living-Learning Communities provide incoming freshmen and transfers an opportunity to live with and take classes with others who share their interests. Students participate with faculty and current UAlbany students in and outside the classroom: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/living_learning_communities.php
• Residential-Learning Communities are designed for students who want to live with other new students who share similar interests. Unlike L-LCs, REACH programs are not tied to academic classes or majors: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/58885.php
• The Freshman Seminar allows students to explore an area of interest and gain insight into the academic expectations of the University at Albany. A wide variety of one credit Freshman Seminars are offered by teaching faculty in the fall semester. Freshman Seminars are limited to 25 students per section, offering first-year students the opportunity for personal interaction with a faculty member who shares their interests. While exploring the chosen topic, students will also be introduced to the academic expectations, opportunities, and challenges of University life: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/freshman_seminars.php
• The Transfer Seminar is designed specifically for new transfer students. These 1-credit seminars provide a small classroom experience and a way to acclimate to study at the University at Albany. Seminars are limited to 25 students per section, offering new students the opportunity for personal interaction with a faculty member and other new students who share their interests. While exploring the chosen topic, students will also be introduced to the academic expectations, opportunities, and challenges of University life: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/freshman_seminars.php
• Peer-to-Peer Education — Excellent students are chosen by a department to work with undergraduate students in a variety of ways including mentoring, tutoring, holding review and homework sessions. The students receive education on how to be an effective peer educator via a 3-credit class offered by the School of Education. An advanced peer educator class is also available: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/Peer%20Educators.php
• Explore UAlbany Part I — During Great Dane Beginnings Opening Weekend, incoming students attend lectures on cutting edge topics and get to meet faculty before classes start.
• Explore UAlbany Part II is a series of follow-on seminars developed specifically to introduce first year students to important resources available for a successful transition to university life: www.albany.edu/student_engagement/explore_ua.php
• Food for Thought — A program where students and professors meet for lunch:
  www.albany.edu/student_engagement/food_for_thought.php
• Munch with the Major — Students intending to major in a specific discipline meet faculty and staff from that area and learn how to be successful. With a focus on information conversations over lunch, students learn about undergraduate research opportunities, internships, different tracks within the major, and what successful graduates who have majored in the department have done.
• Clubs and Groups where our faculty and staff members support the organizations by being supportive advisors: www.albany.edu/involvement/studentgroups.shtml
• Helping incoming students understand the academic expectations at UAlbany through emails and the UAlbany-UKNOW: What you really need to know! website: www.albany.edu/openingweekend/student-tips.php
• UAlbany academic traditions like Candlelighting, Torch Night, and Food for Finals:
  www.albany.edu/spirit/traditions.shtml

For additional details, visit:
www.albany.edu/student_engagement/