Jeremy Shellhorn and Robert Bayliss named First-Year Experience Faculty Fellows


LAWRENCE — The Office of First-Year Experience is pleased to welcome Jeremy Shellhorn, associate professor of design, and Robert Bayliss, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese, as faculty fellows. Shellhorn and Bayliss will serve for two years working with FYE staff and faculty partners on programming and new initiatives.

“Both Professor Bayliss and Professor Shellhorn bring to the faculty fellow role valuable experience teaching first-year students and engaging them through experiential learning,” said Sarah Crawford-Parker, assistant vice provost and director of the Office of First-Year Experience. “The faculty fellows will help us to engage more faculty in the development of orientation, KU Common Book, learning communities and other first-year programs.”

Shellhorn is assisting with development of a campus plan to expand learning communities. He brings to the position experience with curricular design and planning and expertise in design thinking. He has been active in creating freshman courses in the Department of Design that create a collaborative learning environment and welcome freshmen into a new educational experience.

“The Office of First-Year Experience can create a pathway for success for every student at KU by connecting people, programs and resources across campus,” Shellhorn said. “I hope to bring a design perspective to FYE and to offer ideas of how to expand collaborative learning experiences and communities for first-year students.”

Bayliss is working on the expansion of the First-Year Seminar Program. His work will build on the important contributions of Andrea Greenhoot, associate professor of psychology, who has been leading the First-Year Seminar Steering Committee and is currently overseeing the FYS assessment process. Bayliss will oversee the seminar proposal review process and facilitate course development workshops and related programs. In fall 2012, Bayliss taught a First-Year Seminar on literary adaptation across linguistic, cultural and geographical boundaries.

“The Office of First-Year Experience presents a unique opportunity to lay a foundation for students that enhances their understanding of opportunities at KU and prepares them to make the most of their undergraduate career,” Bayliss said. “I hope to bring a faculty perspective to the initiatives being developed so that the office's work is clearly communicated to university faculty and presented as complementary to the many other initiatives being undertaken according to the vision of Bold Aspirations.”

During their two-year terms, both faculty fellows will engage in outreach to expand faculty participation in First-Year Experience programs. They will also collaborate with FYE staff and provide feedback on a range of programs and new initiatives. A conference presentation is expected during the fellow’s second year.

Thu, 02/14/2013

author

Gavin Young

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Gavin Young

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