SLS 1501 First-Year Seminar Course
The SLS 1501 course is offered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education and is open to students in any major/program of study.
Applications are now closed for Summer B and Fall 2023 Adjunct Faculty positions. If you are interested in teaching in the 2024-2025 academic year fill out the interest form below. Review the job description here to learn more about the SLS 1501 course and qualifications. Ensure you review the criterion prior to applying. If you have questions regarding your eligibility to teach, contact Lindsay Archambault.
What is the SLS 1501 First-Year Seminar Course?
- Strategies for Success (SLS 1501) is a 3-credit hour elective letter grade course designed to assist students in transitioning to the University and collegiate life.
- The course will help students build a strong academic foundation by developing important academic and study skills.
- Students will also acquire information towards critical thinking skills and develop knowledge toward career-readiness.
- Each section of SLS 1501 is assigned an Adjunct Faculty selected by the SLS 1501 Program.
I am so thankful for my SLS 1501 course. Coming into college, I was confident I knew all there was to be successful. I did everything right in high school and was well on my way in my major. I did not realize how difficult college would be. SLS 1501 taught me how to correctly read my textbooks and study for exams. My first semester was tough, but I made it through and now I am more confident moving forward. I understand now how valuable SLS 1501 is.
Student Success Narrative
Meet Your SLS 1501 Program Coordinator
Hello everyone! My name is Aliandra Burgos, and I am the Academic Program Coordinator for the Strategies for Student Success Course. I am a passionate advocate for social justice, equity, student support, and student success. I am excited to support our incoming UCF knights to help them be successful in the first-year and beyond! If you have any questions about the Strategies for Success course or just want to say hello, email me at aliandra.burgos@ucf.edu. Go Knights!
Summer B 2023 Section Offerings
We are pleased to offer new and exciting course modality sections! Course sections will be offered face-to-face in UCF main campus, and there will be both online synchronous and asynchronous (100% remote) course sections.
Any entering first-time in college (FTIC) student can enroll in the SLS 1501 courses below based on their schedule. Sections noted with an asterisk * are special populations/major specific SLS 1501 sections only.
Please contact Nina Leonard for questions about COB sections.
Fall 2023 Section Offerings
All sections are offered face-to-face in UCF main campus.
Any entering first-time in college (FTIC) student can enroll in the SLS 1501 courses below based on their schedule. Sections noted with an asterisk * are special populations/major specific SLS 1501 sections only.
Please contact Nina Leonard for questions about COB sections.
R = Thursday
Section
KeyCode
Faculty
Meeting Time
Location
7
13694
Dr. Stacey Malaret
T R 10:30AM - 11:45AM
CB1 307
1
13492
Dr. LeeAnn Roberts
M W 10:30AM - 11:45AM
CB2 204
3
13508
Dr. Jamil D. Johnson
M W 12:30PM - 01:45PM
CB2 204
2
13507
Dr. Richard Williams
T R 01:30PM - 02:45PM
NSC 108
5
13553
Dr. Doris Alcivar
M W 04:30PM - 05:45PM
Remote
SLS 1501 Learning Outcomes
- Increase self-efficacy, confidently perform college-level tasks and make effective decisions that will promote retention, persistence, and graduation as a highly-competitive UCF Knight.
- Develop effective short-term and long-term goals and apply action steps needed to reach your goals.
- Understand college-level research inclusive of peer-reviewed research, effective presentation skills (written, oral, and multimedia), and writing college-level papers in APA format.
- Identify the important co-curricular and high-impact practices that correlate to your intended major and/or career-interests to participate in to strengthen your academic pathways.
Three Prong Approach to Promote Student Success
- Student Success Strategies: Time Management, Study Skills, Note Taking, Active Reading, Exam Preparation, Critical Thinking.
- College Level Writing and Research: Introduction to college level writing (technical writing), research development (peer reviewed research in the library database), and APA writing style (We are introducing students to APA; however, depending on the major there could be other writing styles students may need to learn. Students will learn these in their major specific coursework.
- Career Readiness: Self-Reflection upon student’s career interests and identification of co-curricular involvement over the next four years, resume development, elevator pitch.
Impact of SLS 1501
FAQs
I previously enrolled in a course like SLS 1501 (i.e. Community College or High School), should I take this course at UCF?
Absolutely! SLS 1501 courses at other institutions help you get into UCF whereas the course at UCF helps students graduate from UCF!
I have 30 or more credit hours, am I still eligible to enroll?
Any FTIC student (i.e. those admitted with accelerated hours, AP/IB credit, etc.) may enroll in SLS 1501. Continuing Sophomores may also elect to enroll.
Are there any major restrictions?
Sections are not major based; thus, students from all majors may enroll in SLS 1501. However, there are major based sections or sections with restricted enrollment (a note is indicated in myUCF).
Is SLS 1501 an easy A?
The course is designed to support success and students should approach like any other college-level course. Attending class, participating, and submitting assignments are strategies to success.
Models of Success
I graduated top in my high school class and figured college would be a breeze. I was so wrong! I had no idea how to write a college level paper. SLS introduced me to the APA writing style and the UCF Writing Center.
In high school I aced every exam. I honestly did not have to study. My first exam at UCF was an eye opener. Not only did I fail it broke my confidence. SLS helped me implement a better study routine, test taking strategies, and introduced me to the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC).
UCF has over 500 organizations and clubs. I knew I wanted to be involved on campus but had no idea the real time commitment. SLS helped me prioritize my time management skills so school was main goal but I could still be involved and make friends.
SLS 1501 has helped me be more social. It’s helped me gain my social skills back especially after this [COVID-19] pandemic. The class is so welcoming, and the teachers are so welcoming, you can just spark a conversation. You leave the class filled because you think ‘I spoke my peace and I feel better. Finally, I’m talking in class again.
Course Topics
Learn and apply the skills necessary to be a highly competitive UCF Knight!
- Effective Time Management
- Self-Reflective Techniques
- Career-Readiness
- Academic Research and Writing
- Critical Thinking and Debate
- Effective Goal Setting
- Motivation
- Financial Literacy
- Academic Resilience
- Presentation Strategies
- Study Strategies & Test Taking