Welcome to the home page for Concordia University Wisconsin's Freshman Year Experience program. We are delighted that you have expressed an interest in us! We hope this page and the adjoining links will answer your questions about our mission and practice. God's richest blessings!
ABOUT LA 105
At the heart of our Freshman Year Experience program is LA 105 "Higher Education: A New Experience", which is a 3-credit course intended to enhance success for incoming students. LA 105 is NOT a remedial course. All new CUW students will benefit from taking this class, which targets spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and intellectual needs of young adults transitioning into university life.
No other course at Concordia is quite like LA 105. Excellent instructors from across the university step forward to teach this class: they come from Student Life, Political Science, Computer Science, Education, Theology, Business, Financial Aid, Athletics, Communication, the Career Center, Natural Science, and beyond! They are assisted by upper class students, known as 'peer leaders,' who co-instruct the course, creating an exciting team-teaching situation. Furthermore, each section of LA 105 is paired with another section (meeting at the same time) to create a dynamic interplay during various units throughout the semester.
Lecture is the LEAST used form of delivery. Students are engaged with a variety of pedagogical methods such as debate, role playing, e-mail, video, computer simulations, and small group exercises and projects. Each class promotes vigorous, open discussion about issues most affecting college freshmen.
Nearly 75% of incoming freshmen take LA 105, and in 2004 an OUTSTANDING 94% of LA 105 participants returned for their second semester at CUW. In many academic programs this course fulfills the philosophy requirement in the general education core that all traditional CUW students complete.
While teaching styles and course content vary across sections, every LA 105 class addresses the following topics:
- group building
- critical thinking
- time management
- student conduct code
- campus resources
- academic skills
- registration
- co-curricular activities
- relationship skills
- public speaking skills
- service project
EXCELLENCE, RIGOR, and CONSISTENCY are the three values that drive our program, and these are framed within the over-all notion of SERVANTHOOD. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to save and to serve (Mark 10: 35-45); consequently, our calling is to believe in that saving work and to serve Christ and others. In LA 105 we want to impress upon our students the privilege and joy of servanthood in all that we do!
For much more information about our Freshman Year Experience program, please explore this site. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Have a wonderful and blessed day!
God's peace,
Rev. Randall Ferguson, PhD
Director, Freshman Year Experience
Concordia University Wisconsin
