The Dean of Undergraduate Education, Sharon V. Salinger, has sent a call for proposals for transfer seminars for the coming academic year.You may submit an application online at Seminar Application. Below is information based on faculty's frequently asked questions and answers.

1. What are transfer seminars?

Transfer seminars are one-unit small group seminars of 15 students designed to introduce students to the culture of the research university by encouraging them to become active participants in intellectual interactions with their peers and professors. Stimulating discussions and critical thinking are among the primary goals. Offered as University Studies 4, the course will normally be taken for a letter grade, though students may elect the pass/not pass option. Most seminars will be open to all interested students, but will be targeted at students within the discipline with enrollment preference given to new upper-division transfers. Although the seminars have no generic pre-requisites, seminar descriptions should include information about desireable background knowledge so that students can select appropriately from the course offerings. Please indicate such requests when you apply.

2. Who will teach transfer seminars?

Ladder and other senate faculty, including emeriti professors and lecturers SOE, are invited to teach a transfer seminar and to sign up directly via the application form. The invitation is extended to senate faculty in the professional schools as well.

3. Who will take transfer seminars?

New upper-division transfer students will be given enrollment priority for the seminars.

4. How will the transfer seminars affect my regular teaching assignments?

The transfer seminars do not affect your regular teaching assignments. They are taught as course overload. They cannot be used to substitute for regularly assigned teaching.

5. When and where will the seminars be scheduled?

When: Transfer seminars will be scheduled for one hour a week for a quarter. In 2012-13, the current plan is to have seminars taught only during fall quarter. Variations based on course content are possible, but in all cases the goal is to assure sustained and repeated contact with faculty throughout the quarter. Every attempt will be made to accommodate an instructor's scheduling preferences.

Where: General assignment classrooms have been reserved, but many schools and departments have especially suitable space in conference and seminar rooms outside the Registrar’s purview. Instructors are strongly encouraged to recommend these sites on their transfer seminar application. Some faculty may prefer to teach an afternoon or evening seminar in one of the academic theme houses. Again, please indicate this when you apply.

6. How might I design a transfer seminar?

Because transfer seminars give faculty and students a chance to explore academic topics and new lines of inquiry in an interactive and congenial setting, they can support a range of intellectual interests. Consider introducing UCI students to a major problem in your research field, to a book or idea in your area that changed your mind, or to a contemporary social or political dilemma linked to your expertise. Consider including a cultural or field experience outside the classroom. Because teaching a transfer seminar is over and above your regular teaching assignment, consider topics that take advantage of your current activities, such as a research project in process, a book you are writing, or a periodical you read regularly.

The seminars should engage students, foster discussion, and promote critical thinking. Normally students are expected to spend approximately two hours a week outside of class for every hour in the classroom, so the workload of a transfer seminar should be planned accordingly. You might consider assigning grades based on attendance, informal writing assignments, group work, class presentations, and the like.

7. What happens after I submit my request?

The Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education will select an array of transfer seminars for fall to assure diversity of topics and a range of scheduling options for students. Once the deadline to apply (June 1) has passed, you will receive confirmation about whether your seminar has been accepted. You will also be contacted about scheduling and about next steps, including book orders. The Division of Undergraduate Education handles publicity, enrollment, and the mechanics.

8. What reward do I get for teaching my transfer seminar?

Good news! This year we are offering a $1500 research stipend for faculty who teach transfer seminars as a course overload. As usual, there is a tremendous psychic reward for teaching one of these small courses to a group of very engaged and appreciative new students and helping them make their adjustment to UC Irvine.

9. What is the course expense supplement?

This too is gone with the financial times... However, you are welcome to request modest financial help with a special event and we will try to provide it.

10. How will students learn about the transfer seminars?

New upper-division transfers will learn about them in the regular mailings sent to new students this spring and summer, in the Transfer Success Orientation Programs held during the summer, and in advising sessions with academic counselors. Continuing upper division students will be invited to enroll after new transfers have had every opportunity to participate. Consequently, we expect only limited participation by continuing students in fall quarter.

11. How can I obtain answers to other questions I have or help with designing a transfer seminar?

Please contact Associate Dean Rudi Berkelhamer with questions or to assist you in developing the best possible seminar experience for you and our UCI students. She can be reached at rcberkel@uci.edu or (949) 824-1955. We look forward to hearing from you.