Scribner Seminars

The Scribner Seminar is the cornerstone of Skidmore’s FYE Program. This 4-credit class is a small, seminar style course designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity, challenge preconceived notions, and provide a solid foundation for continued study at Skidmore. All students are required to enroll in a Scribner Seminar during the fall semester of their first year. By design, the academic component of the course comprises three of the four credits, and the fourth credit is devoted to content to help students transition to the college environment at Skidmore.

Scribner Seminars are courses about knowing, particularly about ways to identify problems, formulate productive questions, and go about answering those questions. Students in this course will demonstrate the ability to:

• distinguish among, and formulate, types of questions asked by different disciplines 
• read critically, and gather and interpret evidence   
• distinguish among the evidence and methodologies appropriate to different disciplines
• consider and address complexities and ambiguities   
• make connections among ideas
• recognize choices, examine assumptions and ask questions of themselves and of their own work
• formulate conclusions based upon evidence   
• communicate ideas both orally and in writing   
• relate the results of the course to their educational goals

Seminar topics change from year to year; students should consult the First-Year Experience website for currently offered courses and their descriptions.

Director of the First-Year Experience and Professor Mathematics and Statistics: Rachel Roe-Dale

Associate Director of the First-Year Experience and Student Academic Development Coordinator: Marla Melito

First-Year Experience Coordinator: Christy Brown