First Year Seminar Resources for Faculty: FYS Workshop Descriptions

In Class Workshop, 10 minutes

Informational Presentation on the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility

A 10-minute presentation from the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility to explain the services offered through the OAA office as well as the process for eligible students to access accommodations.

Contact Information:
Susan Jenkins
Assistant Director, Accommodations and Accessibility
susan.jenkins@marist.edu
(845) 575-3274

In Class Workshop, 10-15 minutes

Laying the Foundation for Your Career: A First-Year Guide to Career Services

The Center for Career Services is here to help students navigate and plan for a successful future, both academically and professionally. In this 10-15 minute presentation, we’ll introduce your students to the wealth of resources and opportunities available to them as a first-year student.

We'll cover how engaging with Career Services early can shape their academic path, help them set meaningful career goals, and prepare for internships that match their skills and interests.

During this session, students will learn about:

• The Four-Year Career Plan: A step-by-step roadmap to ensure they are  building the skills and experiences that employers value.
• Career Services Online Resources: Tools and platforms they can use anytime to explore career options, find job and internship opportunities, and get career advice.
• The NACE Career Readiness Competencies: Essential skills that will make students stand out to future employers and ensure they are well-prepared for a successful career.

Our goal is to show your students how planning and engaging with Career Services from day one can set them up for long-term success.

Contact Information:
Laura Grevi
Associate Director, Career Development
laura.grevi@marist.edu
(845) 575-2475

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

To empower students for success at Marist, it's crucial to provide them with the necessary resources for academic planning. The Center for Advising & Academic Services plays a vital role in this process, leading students through the intricacies of curriculum, registration, and long-term academic goal setting. We aim to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to proactively manage their academic journey and foster a more productive and meaningful relationship with their advisor. By encouraging students to fully utilize available resources, we facilitate thorough planning, ultimately leading to a more enriching and successful academic experience. This is offered after the initial three weeks of the semester; we recommend students bring their laptops to the workshop to maximize the hands-on learning experience.

Contact information:
Michaela Frisbee
Coordinator of Academic Advising
Michaela.Frisbee1@marist.edu
845-575-2253

In Class Workshop, 15 minutes

MaristVOTES!

This workshop is an opportunity to learn about on-campus voter registration and student electoral engagement activities. MaristVOTES is a non-partisan organization that provides information about voter registration, various election information and the absentee ballot process. 

Contact Information:
Melissa Gaeke
Director, Center for Civic Engagement & Learning
Melissa.Gaeke@Marist.edu
(845) 575-2914

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

This workshop will initiate the process of students becoming culturally aware by introducing diversity, identity, microaggressions, intent, and impact while introducing them to the services available to all Marist undergraduate students. The CMA Staff will engage students in exercises and small group discussions about these issues, help them relate these topics to current events, and hone their critical thinking skills.

Please encourage all FYS classes to ask their students to join the Welcome Week interactive event on Wednesday August 27 at 7:30 pm, a collaboration with First Year Programs and open to all class levels from first year to fifth year at Marist.

Contact information: 
Iris Ruiz-Grech 
Director, Center for Multicultural Affairs 
Iris.Ruiz-Grech@marist.edu or multicultural@marist.edu
(845) 575-3204

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

The Science of Learning

Participants will explore the science behind effective learning strategies, focusing on metacognition and self-regulated learning. Students will gain insights into how the brain processes and retains information, and learn practical techniques to enhance their study habits. Through hands-on activities and classroom engagement apps, students will practice these skills and develop personalized strategies to improve their learning efficiency. By the end of the workshop, students will have a toolkit of evidence-based techniques to boost their confidence and academic performance, and become more self-aware, proactive learners. Key topics include 1) defining metacognition and its role in the learning process and 2) principles of self-regulated learning and how to apply them. Many of the workshops will be led by trained students. Students training to become future presenters may also observe these workshops. There are a limited number of presenters available and we may not be able to accommodate every request.

Contact Information:
Christina Fojas
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Director, Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Interim Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
Christina.Fojas@marist.edu
(845) 575-6276

In Class Workshop, 15 minutes

The Core/ Liberal Studies program is a vital and unique part of each student's Marist experience. With Breadth, Pathway, and Skill-intensive courses, the Core/LS offers students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the world, synthesize and integrate methods and insights from a variety of disciplines, think logically and creatively, use technology, and express themselves effectively. This workshop, led by members of the Core/LS committee, aims to inform students about the Core, answer student questions, and get them excited about the numerous Breadth, Pathway, and Skill offerings. Please note that the workshop is roughly 15 minutes long, not an entire class period.

Contact Information
Cathleen Muller
Director, Core/Liberal Studies
cathleen.muller@marist.edu
845-575-5095

In Class Workshop, 30-45 minutes

Stigma around mental health concerns leads us to believe that only certain people experience depression or anxiety, that we are only capable of feeling one thing at a time, and that emotions are scary and bad. This isn’t true! At some point in our lives, we all experience feelings like sadness and worry as an understandable reaction to life stressors. We’re capable of feeling and working through many things at once as emotions are data that give us information about our situation and how to proceed. During this session, students will learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Students will learn techniques on responding instead of reacting to stressors, what to do in a mental health emergency, and add coping techniques to their toolbelt. The session will close with information about what Counseling Services has to offer.  

Contact Information:
Kimberly Marsden, CMHC-LP
Clinical Counselor, Counseling Services
kimberly.marsden@marist.edu
counseling.services@marist.edu
(845) 575-3314 

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Workshop is designed to help new students build a strong sense of belonging and connection on campus. This interactive, hands-on workshop offers a chance to explore important ideas about identity, community, and inclusion in a supportive environment. Students will discuss topics like belonging, intersectionality, and group dynamics with the goal of creating a more inclusive, respectful, and compassionate campus for everyone. The primary objective of the workshop is to equip students with a shared language and understanding of essential learning outcomes, including:

• Knowledge of Social Structures: By exploring various social structures, students will gain insight into the complexities of our society, empowering them to make positive changes in their communities, be it here on campus, at home, in the world at large.
• Social and Personal Responsibility: Encouraging a sense of responsibility, the workshop will emphasize the importance of active engagement in promoting equity and social justice.
• Global Awareness and Empathy: Through experiential learning, students will develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, fostering empathy and cultural sensitivity.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop is distinct from, yet complementary to, the CMA workshop. We encourage first-year students to attend both workshops, as doing so offers multiple opportunities to engage with key concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Contact Information:
Sasha Biro
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Academic Coordinator
sasha.biro@marist.edu
(845) 575-2916

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

Advocacy Workshop

This workshop presents advocacy as an advanced form of communication that increases self-efficacy and citizen participation. In life we must learn to advocate for ourselves and others and often with those who see things very differently from us. Honing these skills in an integral part of our human development. Students will learn about: self-advocacy, the ability to independently represent one’s self and their views and needs; social advocacy, a form of citizen action that shows public support for an idea, plan, or way of advancing an issue; and how that can be applied to a variety of situations.

Contact Information:
Colin McCann
Associate Director, First Year Programs & Leadership Development
colin.mccann@marist.edu
(845) 575-3787

In Class Workshop, 45-60 minutes

Internships 101

Extending learning beyond the classroom is key to intellectual development and critical thinking. For this reason, all academic schools at Marist place a strong emphasis on internships as a key component of the undergraduate experience. This workshop examines the significant role that internships play in a student’s academic profile. Marist Career Experts will walk students through the requirements for an internship and how to integrate this vital experiential learning into the four-year academic plan. Students will gain insight into the various types of internships and how to take ownership of the search process.

Examples of students’ firsthand experiences of how interning has impacted both their academic journey and career planning will be included.

Contact Information: 
Patrick Boylan
Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design
Internship Coordinator 
Patrick.Boylan@marist.edu
(845) 575-2332

In Class Workshops, 60-75 minutes, asynchronous options available

Research as a Conversation:
In this session, students will be introduced to the research process and the information cycle through active learning. Students will begin to understand their place in the process and how to make appropriate choices in seeking resources and materials. Discussions and activities will explore the evolving nature of information from popular sources to specialized and academic ones.   The session will include consideration of topic, keywords, and basic search strategies.

Finding & Evaluating Information:
During this session, students will learn search techniques and strategies.  Students will explore and compare different search engines including FoxHunt, Google, and subject specific databases.  As part of this exploration, students will learn how to find sources beyond the Marist Library.  Emphasis will be placed on teaching the critical evaluation of sources to support college-level research. The session is organized around activities that allow students to apply the knowledge they gain during the session. 

OPTION 1: Primary & Secondary Sources in the Archives:
This session will bring students to the Archives and Special Collections and provide students with a hands-on introduction to primary sources using our materials.  They will be shown how to access these unique materials in person and using our online search tools.  The students will also learn more about our secondary sources and how all of this fits into the research process. 

OPTION 2 Primary & Secondary Sources: What are They? Where to Find Them? (ASYNCHRONOUS ONLY): 

This online workshop will provide students with an introduction to the differences between primary and secondary resources, and how they fit into the research process.  They will be shown specific examples of primary and secondary research materials, how to access these unique materials using the Library's catalog, and, finally, they will respond to review questions based on the online workshop's content.

Nothing But Citation:
In this session, students learn the fundamentals of citing sources.  Students will understand the value and purpose of citation and how their citations fit within the larger research conversation.  They will learn the mechanics of citations including identifying online sources, formatting reference list and in-text citations and the value of verifying citations.  Activities allow students to apply the knowledge gained in the workshops.  Instruction can be done in the citation style of your choice.

If you wish to customize any of the workshops, please contact us and provide a syllabus or assignment that is relevant to the customizations.

Contact Information
Elizabeth Clarke
Coordinator, Library Instruction
Elizabeth.Clarke2@Marist.edu
845-575-2733

In Class Workshop, 30 minutes

Meeting MakerLab: Marist’s Maker Space for All Red Foxes! 

Come meet MakerLab- Marist’s vibrant Maker Space located in the Steel Plant, where first-year students are invited to explore this creative space designed for all Red Foxes. This introductory workshop welcomes students across disciplines, showcasing the cutting-edge equipment available in MakerLab, inspiring creative possibilities early in your Marist journey. Students will gain a broad understanding of the capabilities of each tool, learn how to navigate the student-run model with built-in peer support, and discover the many ways you can get involved. Rooted in a culture of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on learning, MakerLab empowers you to blend your multifaceted interests, build confidence with experimentation, learn a new skill and expand upon classroom knowledge. MakerLab is one of the resources available to you where you can test out your creativity, bring forward your inner artist, collaborate and create something new to proudly say, this was Made at Marist.  

Contact Information:
Ais Oisin
Marist Maker Lab Manager
ais.oisin@marist.edu
(845) 575-3830

In Class Workshop, 60-75 minutes

This FYS workshop was developed by an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students to introduce the foundations of mindfulness to first year students and offer focused experiential learning on how college students can incorporate a mindfulness-based approach in their academic, emotional, and interpersonal lives.  During this workshop, FYS students will discover the scope of mindfulness, be guided through three specific mindfulness skill practices to experience the benefits, first-hand, and learn of various mindfulness-based resources on and off-campus, including the newly formed Marist Mindfulness Club!  The workshop is designed to emphasize self-awareness, perspective taking, creativity, and reducing biases.  

Workshops will be led primarily by trained student presenters. Students training to become future presenters may also observe these workshops. While we will attempt to staff all workshop requests, we have a small (but growing!) group of student presenters and may not be able to accommodate every request.  We will reply and confirm all workshops by email. 

Contact information:
Matteo Undici 
BSW Practicum Coordinator and Lecturer of Social Work
Marist Mindfulness Collective Faculty
Marist Mindfulness Club Advisor
matteo.undici@marist.edu 
(845) 575-2092

Marist Mindful Collective: Yasmine Awais (Psychology), Kate Chaterdon (English), Brian Loh (Religion), Mary Stone (Psychology), Matteo Undici (Social Work), and 8 exceptional undergraduate students!

In Class Workshop, 30-45 minutes

Scholarship Speed Dating: the Beginnings of a Beautiful Relationship

In this workshop, students will identify their most closely-held values, chart the contours of their higher aspirations, and gain an initial appreciation of fitting nationally competitive scholarship opportunities. Ideally, small group breakout exercises will help students to articulate their unique *fit* with specific fellowships. By the end of this session, participants should have gained a good familiarity with relevant opportunities along with some solid notions of appropriate next steps to prepare them for those opportunities.

Contact Information:
Pat Taylor
Graduate School and Fellowship Advisor
pat.taylor@marist.edu
(845) 575-2347

In Class Workshops, 60-75 minutes

SPEECH ORGANIZATION AND DELIVERY

The workshop assists faculty with developing student proficiency in public presentation, one of the core skills covered in our First Year Seminar classes.  Students learn to organize their ideas and information in a way that empowers them to communicate successfully with many people from diverse backgrounds at the same time. They learn the parts of an effective presentation and how to develop them, including: how to develop successful attention-getters and establish credibility with audiences; how to organize main points and guide audiences through them by previewing, transitioning and using signposts, and summarizing; and how to close with impact. Students will also learn tips to harness anxiety and techniques to improve their speech delivery. The successful creation and implementation of visual aids will also be covered.

Contact Information:
Joanna Huyck
joanna.huyck@marist.edu
(845) 575-2707