Training Day
GT 1000 is a one-credit hour, letter graded first-year seminar course that is coordinated by the Center for Academic Enrichment. GT 1000 has been in existence since 2004, but Georgia Tech has had a first-year seminar course for over 30 years. The course is committed to supporting the successful transition and experience of new students. GT 1000 is taught by academic faculty and administrators with advanced degrees who volunteer their time above and beyond regular responsibilities to assist first-year students in transitioning successfully to Georgia Tech. Each summer instructors meet to prepare themselves for Fall GT 1000 courses.
This year’s training, held on June 21st, included 115 new and veteran instructors from across campus. Dr. Hodges, Assistant Director of the Center for Academic Enrichment for Academic Transition Programs, has been in charge of the instructor training for the past three years. Each year she works to support the faculty and staff who teach GT1000 by designing a comprehensive training program to orient them to the curriculum as well as effective instructional strategies.
The program included speakers representing units that support the GT1000 curriculum. Dr. Michelle Tullier, Executive Director of the Center for Career Discovery and Development (C2D2), spoke about how C2D2 is changing its approach in career education, and library representatives, Seth Porter, Alison Valk, and Karen Viars were there to explain how to continue using the library’s resources amidst their renovation. The keynote speakers for the event were Stephanie Ray, Associate Dean of Students & Director of Student Diversity Programs, and Karen Yiu, Coordinator for Student Diversity Programs. As part of their presentation they included several activities on diversity and inclusion that can be incorporated into GT 1000 courses.
New instructors attended specialized breakout sessions that covered teaching time management, working with Team Leaders (TLs), and academic policies. Returning instructors aren’t required to go to the afternoon sessions, but many choose to take part as a refresher and to meet new instructors. “There’s always something new that you can learn,” Dr. Hodges said, “and the program is so big and sprawling that once instructors start in the fall, there’s not a lot of time for them to interact with one another. So, the training is a good opportunity to create a sense of unity, and so that we can all be on the same page.”
From the Instructors (New and Returning)
One of GT 1000’s new instructors, Emma Blanford, Assistant Director for Living Learning Communities (LLCs) for the College of Sciences (CoS), has the unique opportunity to see her GT 1000 students from both in and out of the classroom. Emma will be working with two new LLCs: SMaRT (Science and Math Research Training), which focuses on assisting students interested in pursuing research during their undergraduate career, and SHaRP (Sciences, Health, and Related Professions), a Pre-Health focused LLC assisting students explore their options for careers in a variety of health-related fields.
Each LLC hosts around 150 students and provides students with options to take many core courses together as a group, which includes GT 1000. “In partnership with other faculty and staff, I will be assisting with the GT 1000 courses for SMaRT and SHaRP, [to] get to know my students, assist with the transition to college, and provide a guideline for them to be successful both as individuals, and as a community at Georgia Tech” Emma said. “I am excited to take advantage of my unique situation as a contact for students both in and out of the classroom in order to develop more meaningful relationships, and serve as a referral for their needs.”
Brett Hulst, Associate Director of Residence Life, has been a part of GT 1000 for many years. This fall will be his 19th time teaching a section. "I do this because I love Georgia Tech and this is a great way to stay involved with the excitement of the first year of college," Brett said. "Over the past 20 years, Georgia Tech has become a place that has embraced its rigor by providing resources, highlighting success, celebrating students, and creating resources. All of this really does help students seem more prepared by the end of the first year."