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Freshmen explore options in program
Discover Oregon has
varied courses with small
class sizes to explore the
University
By Tricia Schwennesen
Oregon Daily Emerald
Nervous energy filled the air as
15 freshmen crowded into the
small music room.
Syllabi were quickly handed
out and logistics taken care of be
fore the class launched into an
animated discussion about a 4
minute piece of music by Haydn.
“I think it’s going to be a very
interesting class,” said Sanjay
Schmidt, a freshman from New
Mexico. “I just really wanted to
expand my knowledge of music,
and I thought this would be a
good way to do it.”
The music class could have
been any freshman-level class,
but it is part of the Discover Ore
gon program, a program geared to
ward freshmen who have not de
clared a major.
The program helps guide fresh
men through their first year at the
University and provides them
with the opportunity to build a
solid foundation become part of a
community.
“The classes are deliberately
small, so everyone can get to
know everyone else and develop
a sense of extended family,” pro
fessor Robert Hurwitz said.
The Discover Oregon program
joins the Freshman Interest
Groups and Freshman Seminars,
programs based on learning com
munities, small subgroups of stu
dents who share similar interests
and classes.
“My advisor told me about it,
and I wanted to be involved with
Man Ganon/Emerald
Professor Robert Hurwitz teaches a Discover Oregon class for the School of Music.
music somehow,” said Chelsea
Jackson, a freshman from Red
mond, “This is the smallest class I
have.”
Jackson said she’s undecided
about her major but is taking
classes ranging from sociology to
music to help her get an idea.
Learning communities help
students develop a sense of iden
tity and encourage them to con
tinue their educations at the Uni
versity.
“Studies have shown that stu
dents who are undecided about
their major and career goals are
more prone to dropping out of
school,” said Sherri J. Willard Ar
gyres, assistant director of student
retention programs.
Since fall quarter 1996, 80.3
percent of the freshman class has
continued taking classes for at
least one year, said Pete Bauer, se
nior assistant registrar.
The Discover Oregon program
is a series of 16 one-credit classes
that was created by the College of
Arts and Sciences, said Jane
DeGidio, the director of student
retention programs.
The classes run the gamut of
disciplines and include titles
such as “Women in Electoral Poli
tics in Oregon,” “Inside Musical
Instruments” and even “Sports,
Games and Shows in the Ancient
World."
“It’s like a comfortably paced
year-long orientation,” Willard
Argyres said.
Hurwitz said freshmen some
times feel as though they don’t be
long or don’t have a place because
they don’t have a major yet.
“We don’t want to push stu
dents to declare a major.” Willard
Argyres said. “But we really want
to help students find what they
want to do.”
Still Looking for
that Last Perfect Class?
Are you looking for a little flexibility in your course schedule?
The Distance Education Program at the Continuation Center
still has room available in classes for the Fall. Look on
page 62 in the Fall Schedule of Classes for information and
then register through Duck Call. Watch for most classes
again in Winter.
Last day to add is October 7.
Complete course details are available at http://de.uoregon.edu/
Web-based
Computer-based instruction, readings in a textbook, homework via
e-mail, exams in the SSIL labs. Must attend a 1 hour orientation in
72 PLC at one of the following times: October 7 at 3 p.m.,
October 8 at 6 p.m., or October 9 at 11 a.m.
EC 201: Introduction to Microeconomics
EC 202: Introduction to Macroeconomics
LING 150: Structure of English Words
PS 201: United States Politics
PS 204: Introduction to Comparative Politics
Traditional
Independent readings in a textbook,
e-mail correspondence with the instructor,
handwritten exams, and an assignment
on current events as they relate to your
course topic.
GEOL 304: Fossil Record
GEOL 307: Oceanography
GEOL 308: Oregon and Pacific Northwest
University of Oregoiwf/A Distance
Sandra Gladney Program Coordinator