TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview.................................................................................................................................1 Section One – Background on the Freshman Cluster Program ...............................................3 Description and Goals of the Freshman Cluster Program............................................................................................3 What is a Cluster Course?..........................................................................................................................................3 Programmatic Goals of the Freshman Cluster Program.......................................................................................5 Size and Scope of the Freshman Cluster Program: Fall 1997 to Spring 2003..........................................................6 History of the Freshman Cluster Program.......................................................................................................................9 A Proposal for Change ...............................................................................................................................................9 Campus Review and Reaction to the Cluster Proposal.......................................................................................10 From a Proposed Requirement to an Elective Cluster Program for Freshmen ...............................................11 The Development of Twelve Cluster Courses in Five Years.....................................................................................12 Section Two – Administration of the Freshman Cluster Program.........................................15 Development of a Cluster Administrative Team..........................................................................................................15 Development of an Instructional Support Network for Cluster Courses.................................................................16 Powell College Library.............................................................................................................................................17 Writing Programs ......................................................................................................................................................17 Office of Instructional Development......................................................................................................................17 Center for Experiential Education and Service Learning (CEESL) .................................................................18 Office of Residential Life .........................................................................................................................................18 Development and Implementation of Cluster Courses ...............................................................................................19 Phase I—Conceptualization and Socialization.....................................................................................................19 Phase II—Development and Implementation.......................................................................................................20 Oversight and Assessment of the Cluster Program.....................................................................................................20 Oversight by Three Academic Senate Committees .............................................................................................20 Cluster Assessment ...................................................................................................................................................21 The Cluster Budget............................................................................................................................................................22 Source of Funds.........................................................................................................................................................22 Distribution of Cluster Program Expenditures .....................................................................................................23 Flow of Resources to Departments for Course Releases and Graduate Student Support.............................25 Are Cluster Courses More Expensive than Other Courses?..............................................................................27 Section Three - The Cluster Experience of Freshmen...........................................................31 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................31 Methodology......................................................................................................................................................................31 Profile of Cluster Students ...............................................................................................................................................32 Research Findings .............................................................................................................................................................34 Motivation: Student Reasons for Enrolling in a Cluster Course......................................................................34 Intellectual Development and Best Practices........................................................................................................34 Workload.....................................................................................................................................................................36 Achieving a Sense of Community ..........................................................................................................................37 The Yearlong Experience.........................................................................................................................................39 The Capstone Seminar Experience.........................................................................................................................42 Section Four – The Cluster Experience Of Graduate Student Instructors ............................43 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................43 Methodology......................................................................................................................................................................44 Profile of the Graduate Student Instructors...................................................................................................................45 Research Findings .............................................................................................................................................................46 Motivations and Reservations .................................................................................................................................47 Course Development.................................................................................................................................................48 Intellectual Development .........................................................................................................................................48 Workload.....................................................................................................................................................................49 Community .................................................................................................................................................................50 Satisfaction .................................................................................................................................................................51 The Capstone Seminar Experience.........................................................................................................................51 i Section Five – The Cluster Experience of Faculty Members ..................................................55 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................55 Methodology......................................................................................................................................................................55 Profile ..................................................................................................................................................................................57 Research Findings .............................................................................................................................................................58 Motivations and Reservations .................................................................................................................................58 Course Development.................................................................................................................................................61 Intellectual Development .........................................................................................................................................65 Workload.....................................................................................................................................................................67