The First Year Seminar (FYS) program offers small (max 22 students), interdisciplinary, active, inquiry-based, and learner-centred courses that help students transition from high school to university. Students engage with contemporary issues and ideas, in an inclusive and welcoming environment, with peers from across the university. Instructors are facilitators who help students take responsibility for their own learning. Students develop foundational academic, and personal skills that will benefit them during and beyond their time at the UOG. FYS also offer instructors the opportunity to re-think their teaching and to explore creative and active learning pedagogies. Leading a small group of energized students offers a dynamic teaching experience that is unique to the FYS program. • Unique to First Year Seminars is the LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #14 (First Year Seminars), on p. 74 and 75 of the CUPE 3913 Collective Agreement: https://www.uoguelph.ca/facultyrelations/system/files/CA%20Final%20Unit%202%20TOC.pdf. • IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION. Applicants are encouraged to review the DETAILED APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (i.e., forms, applications procedures and a helpful application submission checklist) on the “How to Facilitate a First Year Seminar” website: https://www.uoguelph.ca/vpacademic/fys/how-facilitate-first-year-seminar • In addition to applying to this posting via this online portal, NEW applicants or previous FYS instructors proposing a NEW course must upload a single PDF with the following: A First Year Seminar NEW Course Application Form, CV, teaching dossier, and letter(s) of approval from department head/supervisor and dean (if applicable). In addition to applying to this posting, previous FYS instructors proposing the SAME course must upload a single PDF with the following: A First Year Seminar RETURNING Course Application Form, course outline, letter(s) of approval from department head/supervisor and dean (if applicable), and if the applicant chooses, an updated CV and updated teaching dossier. • CONTACT the FYS Acting Director, Dr. Andrea Buchholz (abuchhol@uoguelph.ca), with any questions about the application process. • ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS: Each application will be assessed primarily on the strength of the course proposal: • Course learning outcomes (LOs), Instruction and Assessment including constructive alignment and alignment with University of Guelph undergraduate LOs; • Learning culture (classroom environment/vibe) consistent with needs of first year learners, inclusive, strategy(ies) to foster responsible engagement with possibly sensitive topics. • Overall fit with FYS program (catchy course title and description; innovation and uniqueness; interdisciplinarity; balance between academic rigor and creativity/dynamism; positioning of self as facilitator; returning applicant’s proposed offering continues to be innovative/fresh). • Assessment of applications will also consider applicants’ degree; post-secondary teaching experience; teaching and learning training; teaching effectiveness; and other relevant experience. • COVID-19. The FYS program, instructors and students are subject to all University of Guelph policies created to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include masking and vaccination policies that may be revised with limited notice depending on COVID-19 circumstances and advice from government and public health authorities. With the evolving nature of the pandemic, public health measures may resume with little advance notice to address the health risks. The U of G’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy can be found here: https://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/staff-faculty-hr-policies-support-staff/713-covid-19-vaccination-policy. More COVID-related information for faculty and staff can be found here: https://news.uoguelph.ca/covid-19/faculty-and-staff/