Propose a Commons Seminar
We are currently soliciting proposals for Commons Seminars for Spring 2021. Commons Seminars are experiential, one-credit, spring-semester seminars for first-year students. They are open to students from all four undergraduate schools and have no pre-requisites. The goal of Commons Seminars is to bring students together who have a range of backgrounds and interests around a core topic that they might not otherwise encounter in the typical class offerings. A professor or a team of instructors leads them in exploring an area of research or intellectual interest that otherwise might not find its way into their professional research or teaching activity. All topics are encouraged. As the structure of the program implies, we only ask that the course allows for interdisciplinary discovery, and that the planned instructional methods and designed experiences are appropriate for small (15 student cap) enrollment.
Click here to see the list of Seminars that were offered in Spring 2020.
Proposals to teach a Commons Seminars are due on June 15, 2020, and can be submitted through this form. To learn more about Commons Seminars, please continue to read below.
Why should you propose a Commons Seminar?
- Commons Seminars offer a chance for faculty to teach something that they are passionate about, something that may be outside usual departmental offerings, something that might be JUST the right size for 15 hours. It is unlike any other classes we offer because they are driven solely by faculty interests and enthusiasms. Please see [here] to get a glimpse of the amazing topics that were available in Spring 2020.
- Commons Seminars offer a chance to connect with first-year students across majors, schools, and interests. Students sign up for Commons Seminars simply because they want to—because the topic sparks their interest, connects with a longstanding passion, or invites a new way of thinking. Regardless of why they sign up, students are enrolled simply because they want to be there.
- Commons Seminars offer a chance to explore new experiences, new approaches to teaching, and new contexts. Because the seminars are intended to be experiential, they create opportunities for students and faculty to go somewhere new, see something different, or consider things in a different way. Think beyond the walls of the classroom—that’s where Commons Seminars can go.
Eligibility to teach a Commons Seminar
Commons Seminars are offered by departments or programs in one of the four undergraduate schools or colleges. Any individual or team holding academic appointments in one of the four undergraduate schools and colleges or the professional schools is eligible and can partner with faculty, staff, or graduate students outside of their college. Specifically:
- Faculty from the professional and graduate schools are eligible to teach a Commons Seminar, but must seek an instructional partner within the undergraduate department through which the course is intended to be offered.
- Instructors who are on annual contracts are responsible for securing a teaching appointment for the academic year or semester in which they offer the seminar in order to be eligible.
- Any qualified university graduate student or staff professional who partners with a VU faculty member is eligible. The faculty member must serve as the instructor of record, and is required to take an active role in the teaching of the seminar.
Compensation
A $2,000 research fund will be made available to or shared among the instructor(s) of each course.
Course Funds
A fund of $500 will be available to each instructor or instructional team to support the educational goals of the seminar: e.g. group travel expenses, tickets, special materials for group projects, etc. Whenever possible, you will need to use Vanderbilt’s tax-exempt form.
Assignment and Assessment
Vanderbilt courses are generally expected to have 2-3 hours of work outside the classroom for each contact hour. Commons Seminar instructors should think of reducing reading and writing assignments to a third of a regular 3-credit course. Expectations for a first-year writing seminar of 3 credits, for example, is a total of 18-25 pages of written assignments, thus for a Commons Seminar this translates to 6-8 pages. You may also consider other forms of assessment such as creative projects, whether individual or group. While the amount of assignments is limited, the quality of the students’ work should be the same as for a 3-credit course.
Course Proposals
Course proposals should be submitted here and should address every question in the form. Each proposal should address the following questions:
- What is the topic of the course, and what big questions does the course examine
- What texts or resources will the course use?
- What experiences do you envision creating beyond discussion that will enliven the course material?
Scheduling
Scheduling is flexible in order to support the pedagogical flow of your course. The ideal time frame for start and end times is 2 pm to 7 pm. This schedule will avoid the heaviest class times on the one end and extra-curricular and house activities on the other. Of course, other times can be arranged, including weekends.
Classes should start at the regular class times for the day: M/W/F: 2:10, 3:10, 4:10 pm; T/R: 2:35, 4:00 pm. After that, they can be scheduled off schedule.
Possibilities include but are not limited to:
- fourteen 50-minute sessions
- twelve 60-minute sessions
- ten 75-minute sessions
- eight 90-minute sessions (+ one 50-minute session during the first week of classes)
- six 120-minute sessions (+ one 50-minute session during the first week of classes)
- four 180-minute sessions (+ one 50-minute session during the first week of classes)
Except for the fourteen-session schedule, you have the option to:
- meet weekly and complete the course before the end of the semester
- offer a combination of weekly and bi-monthly classes
- schedule meetings for every other week
All seminars have to meet during the first week of classes so that students can be introduced to the course expectations and decide whether or not they want to stay in the course before the end of the add/drop period on January 25.
Inquires about the Commons Seminar program should be directed to The Dean of the Ingram Commons: Melissa.gresalfi@vanderbilt.edu.