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ARS110 Explorations in Creative and Research Activities
- Do you have a hobby / idea / passion / interest ?
- It could be ANY topic: Studying meteors, Starting a sports business, Designing theater costumes, Participating in social activism, Writing computer programs, Becoming a librarian, … click here for current student topics
- Are you ready to use that personal interest to go beyond your classes and discover resources, friends, opportunities, internships, etc. at USM and the
surrounding region? click here for one example
- Contact one of the instructors (see below) to reserve a place in the course now (space is limited). Also, you can speak with your advisor at orientation about registering for ARS110.
- ARS110 is one credit (most courses at USM are three credits) and is just for freshmen or transfer students during their first semester at USM. It is designed for students who have an idea, interest, or passion they want to develop into an important part of their college experience.
Even if you don't have time to take ARS110 or aren't ready for it now, please keep reading. We think you'll find useful information here to get excited about college. Look below and also Click on the images of the eye, ear, etc to learn more. Click on the links in the right column to get into the course material.
What is the point of this course?
The point of this course is to help build academic relationships, friendships, and connections right at the start of college, which will help you feel comfortable and confident in your transition to your new school. Too often, students feel isolated and confused during their first semester. Our goal in ARS110 will be to take a topic in which you already have a strong, personal interest and begin to develop it. In the process, you will build new relationships and friendships to help you quickly become comfortable and engaged in your college education. Perhaps your path will lead you to helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity, or working in a physics research lab, or any of a zillion other possibilities. Ideally, some of the connections each student makes in ARS110 will continue to grow throughout college and some may even last a lifetime.
ARS110 is for new USM students but to explain its purpose we start at the end of college rather than the beginning. Near the end of college, students often work on special projects, sometimes as part of an advanced course, but often the projects are separate from any course. Sometimes the projects are on campus and sometimes they are in the larger, southern Maine community. These activities are unique for each student and can really add to a college education because they build confidence, specific skills, and career ideas. Many first-year college students don't know such opportunities exist. More importantly, many students are not aware of the incredible value these opportunities can add to their college education. The instructors for ARS110 believe that the more of this you experience in college, the greater the value of your college education will be for you. A college education should be much more than just classwork -- We want every entering student to hear that message. We also want every student to know that Southern Maine has tremendous opportunities on campus and off campus to enhance your college experience. But YOU need to create them. They won't come to you. That is because you are unique, so you need to create your own, unique path. That makes it challenging. What are you supposed to do? Who should you talk with? Where should you look for help and ideas? The purpose of the ARS110 course is to help answer those questions as you advance along your own unique path.
Please take time to click on the images in the left column or the class links on the right. In doing so, we hope you'll begin to get a feeling for what we can help you begin with this class.
Click here to read the Course Objectives and the Course Description from the Undergraduate Catalogue.
Click here to learn who can take this class and how to get registered. Although you won't officially register for classes for some time, you can reserve a spot in this course now.
Who are the teachers?
David Champlin is a Biology Professor
Adele Baruch-Runyon is a Counselor and Human Resource Development Professor
Contacts:
Dave Champlin: Office: 305B Science Building, Portland. Office Phone: 228-8349
email: champlin@maine.edu
Adele Baruch-Runyon: Office: 400 Bailey Hall, Gorham. Office Phone: 780-5317
email: adele.baruchrunyon@maine.edu
We decided to create ARS110 because our experience and research has taught us that many students have never been introduced to the idea that the most valuable colege educations are those students help create and their educations take place outside the classroom as much as inside. Not every student will be ready to take a class like ARS110 their first semester at USM. Even so, we realy encourage every student to browse this web site because it may plant a seed in your brain about what you could hope to do in college. College could be as exciting as any time in your life. You have the opportunity to create that excitement. It needs to be you because you are unique. Even so, we can each learn a lot from others while giving and receiving support along the way. Click on the images of the eye, ear, etc to begin learning more about the unique pathway each student can create. You can also click here for another description of ARS110 and what the class will be like.
Thank you, and welcome to USM!
Click here to read a copy of the email that was sent to each new USM student.
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Some of the students interested in ARS110 may also be interested in the Russell Scholars Program at USM.
Click here to learn more about Russell Scholars.
Some of the students interested in ARS110 may also become interested in the Self-Designed Major Program at USM.
Click here to learn more about the Self-Designed Major Program.
Some of the students interested in ARS110 may also be interested in the USM Honors Program, either during their first year or perhaps transferring into it later.
Click here to learn more about the USM Honors Program.
Academic advisors can Click here for an introduction to ARS110.
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