First Year Seminar is Canceled, Now What? Navigating Information Literacy Instruction in Times of Curriculum Change
Jessica Rardin (she/her/hers)
First Year Engagement Librarian
Education and Research Services
University of Wyoming Libraries
The University of Wyoming “paused” the First Year Seminar general education requirement in Fall 2022 and in Fall 2024, the First Year Seminar and any specific first-year student class was removed from the general education curriculum. This webinar will focus on the initiatives undertaken by the University of Wyoming Libraries to engage first-year students in information literacy post-"FYS pause." While some strategies were successful, others did not yield the desired results. I will share positive outcomes from orientation programming, asynchronous learning materials, and initiatives targeting other first-year focused courses. The webinar will also examine less successful programs, including ongoing challenges in attracting students to attend out-of-class workshops. As similar cuts to first-year seminars may occur at other institutions, this webinar aims to provide support and guidance for librarians facing challenges related to shifting curriculums and campus dynamics.