The Faculty Senate should have considered students in their decision to vote for the removal of the first-year seminar as a general education graduation requirement. An examination of the academic literature would have revealed that students who are involved in first-year seminars have higher G.P.A.s, higher retention rates, and are more well-adjusted both in their first year of university and over the course of four years. They are also more likely to graduate within four years. Particularly at a time when college enrollment is increasing nationwide, the Senate should have considered how new students, without knowledge or experience of college campuses and curricula, would be affected by this vote. As an alum and a professional school counselor, I am greatly disappointed in the university's change of policy.

Lauren Dietz

Class of 2006