Conversation with Professors Details

Sign Up│ Program Description│ Attend an Intro session │ Tenth Anniversary Celebration │ Preparing your Session │ Your Room and Rosters │ Your Group and FROG  

"My session was wonderful for me the students were engaged and willing to talk about lots of issues relating to their time at JMU I love doing this."

Conversations with Professors is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2008 from 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.  Room assignments will be emailed to you by August 15.

Some key program details:

A Brief Program Description

As the first required Orientation program in August, this is the perfect time for faculty members to help new students understand their role as learners and express our expectation for intellectual engagement.  Potential topics include:

• Responsibility for learning
• The Honor Code
• Civility in the Classroom
• Academic Problems and Support Resources
• Teacher-Student Interaction
• Goal Setting

Like previous years, you will be able to shape your conversation to fit your own style and the needs of the students in your group.  Student attendance is required for this program and First yeaR Orientation Guides (FROGs) will be of assistance to you. 

This program is co-sponsored by the Center for Faculty Innovation.

Why Lead a Session?

Participating in a Conversations with Professors discussion allows you to help new students understand how to be successful in college.  We need 125 faculty facilitators to make this program work, and we hope you will choose to be one of them!  Click here to sign up.

Tenth Anniversary Celebration August 2008 will be the tenth annual Conversations with Professors program.  In honor       of this milestone, we would like to recognize the outstanding faculty members who generously give their time and energy to this program by presenting each faculty member with a unique and individually crafted glass tumbler.    The glass tumblers are hand-blown by local artisan, Kim Clanton.  Mr. Clanton's work has been on display in Richmond at the Page Bond Gallery.  Recently, he was one of only 100 artists to be selected from over 2,600 submissions (by 920 artists in 42 countries) for inclusion in the Corning Museum New Glass Review 29.  Mr. Clanton has a studio in Waynesboro, Virginia and can be reached at 540/939-4738.

• Preparation Session Notes

• Hints for Classroom Success
• Sixteen Observations on the College Experience

Your Group

Each first year student receives a 1787 Mappy when she or he checks into a residence hall on August 19 or 20, 2008.  The Mappy includes the 1787 Orientation Schedule as well as a label with information including the student's Conversations with Professors facilitator and room assignment.  Students are assigned to mixed gender groups with students in their residence hall.

Your Very Own FROG!

First year students will be arriving in groups of approximately 30-35 lead by their two assigned FROGs (First yeaR Orientation Guides).  The FROGs are upper-class students who have volunteered with Orientation to mentor first year students and guide them through August Orientation. They are expected to assist and support you.

This is a required session for first year students so FROGs will be taking attendance.  At the end of the session a FROG will ask you to choose a number identifying a prizewinner.  Following the sessions some groups may choose to stay in the room for an additional meeting.

Rosters

Several days prior to your session we will send you a roster of students assigned to your session.  The rosters will include the email addresses of each group member and her or his residence hall.  In addition, the names and email addresses of the FROGs assigned to your group will be included.  On occasion, changes are made from the time the rosters are printed and when the sessions take place.  Unfortunately, we do not have the means to inform you of these changes.

Room Assignments

Room assignments will be emailed to you by August 15, 2008.

Further Questions?

If you have questions about Conversations with Professors please contact the Orientation Office at 540-568-1787 or at orientation@jmu.edu.

Thanks for your interest and commitment in making the Conversations with Professors experience a success!!