ID120 FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE Course Syllabus - Daniel McCamish

Term
Fall 2025
Section
MG
Course Delivery
ln person­[FTF]
Class Program

ID120:

Credits 1
Description
A dedicated FYE course taught during the first 8-week abbreviated sesssion of fall term. The course will focus on an introduction to Wilmington College, Quakers, adaptation to college life, study skills, introduction to campus services and facilities, and other life skills. This course will also include a unified “summer” reading and additional course materials used to introduce the areas of thought and expressions (as well as applied fields) and serve as a first introduction to advising with the creation of a 4-year education plan.

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
Monday and Wednesday
Meeting Times:
12:40 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.
Location:
Boyd Cultural Arts Center, Room 121
Delivery Details

Classroom Policies

To create an atmosphere of mutual respect where learning can take place, the following policies will be in effect at all times:

Attendance and Engagement is required at all class meetings. If you must be absent, be sure to email me ahead of time, and understand that you are still responsible for coursework due and material covered that day. Absences may be made up by scheduling an office visit or Zoom call with me. Please see the current Student Handbook for the college attendance policy especially as it pertains to excused absences.

Effective Communication is vital for academic success. Check your college email at least once a day for messages from me, other professors, and college officials.

Classroom Etiquette. Please arrive on time, stay for the entire hour, and avoid interrupting others when they are speaking. My only request is that you be respectful toward each other. Students who are unwilling to comply with this request will be asked to leave the classroom.

Health and Safety. We will follow the guidance and health protocols given by the college. If you feel like you’re getting sick, please do not come to class! Instead, contact the Health and Wellness Center immediately so they can help determine what you need. Remember, attendance may be made up by visiting my office when you’re better, or by scheduling a Zoom meeting with me.

Difficult topics. In this course we may at times discuss difficult, controversial, and/or personal topics. Your thoughts, analysis, opinions, and experiences are welcome in this space. Disagreement is fine, and critical thinking is encouraged. What will not be tolerated is the dehumanization or belittling of any person, whether they are in this classroom or not. Please be respectful.

Work Expectations. A minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time. Before coming to class, you should have reviewed the assigned materials and completed the required work. Be sure to turn in all assignments by the due date. If you know you will be absent, such as for a college sponsored event or a planned medical procedure, then you are obliged to complete your assignments ahead of time and arrange to make up any in-class activities.

Academic Integrity. Most of the assignments done in this class will be collaborative in nature, but you are still expected to do your own work. Always acknowledge any assistance you receive from another person or from AI. Any instance of cheating (e.g., blindly copying another’s work or the product of AI and passing that off as your own work) will result in a zero (0) for the assignment. A severe enough instance, or a repeated pattern of cheating, will result in a grade of “F” for the course as well as referral for judicial review. Please see the current Student Handbook for the college's Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.

Contact Information

Instructor:
Daniel McCamish
Instructor Email:
daniel_mccamish@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
College Hall, Room 200-C
Phone Number
2523700822
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Course Materials

Required Text and Materials

After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance, Anne Sibley O’Brien and Perry Edmond O’Brien, ISBN 9781580891301.

Campus network access, pencil or pen for notes, paper, and a folder or binder.

Instructor's Course Objectives

During this course, the student will...

  • Reflect on their own values
  • Gain an understanding of the liberal arts and general education, including how these intersect with the applied fields at Wilmington College
  • Explore the Wilmington College community, its opportunities, and resources
  • Review study skills techniques to apply in their classes
  • Receive an introduction to “life skills” such as budgeting both time and money
Course Schedule

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Subject to change! This is just to give you an idea of what’s ahead. It will most likely be adjusted as we work together throughout the 8-week term. Assignments and grades will be posted in Blackboard. Please check your Wilmington College email daily for updates to this schedule.

Weekly Topics

Details – see Blackboard

for exact assignments and due dates

Week 1

Monday 8/18 – Friday 8/22

Review class syllabus and College Tip Sheet

Begin your Passport journey

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 5 – 25 (summer reading)

Week 2

Monday 8/25 – Friday 8/29

WC Core Values; Quaker beliefs and culture

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 26 – 55

 

Monday 8/25 class meets in McCoy Room (Kelly Center) for Jason Dixon, Coach and Motivational Speaker.

Week 3

Tuesday 9/2 – Friday 9/5

 

No Class Monday 9/1: Labor Day

Begin planning your Spring Schedule

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 56 – 83

 

Week 4

Monday 9/8 – Friday 9/12

College Study Skills group assignment

First draft of Spring Schedule and FYE Passport due

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 84 – 113

 

Monday 9/8 class meets in McCoy Room (Kelly Center) for Chip Murdock, Senior Director of Diversity and Campus Activities.

Week 5

Monday 9/15 – Friday 9/19

Reflection paper on WC Core Values due

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 114 – 141

 

Week 6

Monday 9/22 – Friday 9/26

Self-navigated assignment on College Study Skills due

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 142 – 161

 

Required: attend “Sex Signals” workshop (Title IX) Monday 9/22 at 7:00 pm, Heiland Theatre.

Week 7

Monday 9/29 – Friday 10/3

Final draft of Spring Schedule and FYE Passport due

Life Skills group assignment

Read and respond to After Gandhi pp. 162 – 198

Week 8

Monday 10/6

Final class meeting: Monday 10/6/2025

Revisit the College Tip Sheet and Spring planning

Reflection on personal Core Values due

Course Assignments

Required Events

In addition to our regular class meetings, you will be expected to attend the following:

  • “Sex Signals” presentation (Title IX). Monday, September 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in Heiland Theatre, Boyd Hall.
  • Any 3 different campus events. Choose one from the following: Ice cream socials, organizational fairs, campus speakers, sporting events and games, any sessions of the Westheimer Peace Symposium

 

Passport

The passport project is meant to acquaint you with the many resources and services available to you on campus. You will visit the following sixteen locations, talk to someone there, and write a short description of each stop. A campus map will be very helpful for this assignment.

Name                                                                                    Location                                                              

One Stop                                                                             Pyle Center, ground floor

Career Services and Workforce Development           Pyle Center, ground floor

Office of Diversity and Inclusion                                 Pyle Center, ground floor

The Cove (campus bookstore/spirit shop)                Pyle Center, ground floor

Quaker Recreation Center                                            Elm Street, next to Hermann Court

Health and Wellness Center                                        Elm Street, behind Hermann Court

Academic Resource Center                                          Robinson Communications Center

Student Success Center                                                 Robinson Communications Center

IT Help Desk                                                                      Robinson Communications Center

Campus Minister’s Office                                              Boyd Hall, first floor

Harcum Art Gallery                                                          Boyd Hall, first floor

Watson Library                                                                  Visit the Circulation Desk

Academic Records                                                           College Hall, first floor

Peace Resource Center                                                 College Street, next to the entrance sign

Your Academic Advisor’s Office                                   Varies

 

Spring Schedule

During this class, you will look at the requirements for your chosen program and begin creating a plan to complete them in a timeframe that works for you. This will include looking at the course offerings for the spring and crafting a tentative schedule, which will help prepare you for your next advising appointment in late October. Details, instructions, and whatever help you need will be provided.

Written Assignments

Written assignments will be brief and give you a chance to reflect on the beginning of your college journey, and on the unique values and culture of Wilmington College. You will also be asked to reflect on the events you attend, and on the offices and services you contact while completing the Passport. Instructions and any supplemental reading will be provided in Blackboard and discussed in class.

Evaluation of Work

Work Expectations. A minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time. Before coming to class, you should have reviewed the assigned materials and completed the required work. Be sure to turn in all assignments by the due date. If you know you will be absent, such as for a college sponsored event or a planned medical procedure, then you are obliged to complete your assignments ahead of time and arrange to make up any in-class activities.

Grades

The expectation for each assignment will be clearly spelled out in advance, as will the due date and the points possible. The course grade is determined by adding up the number of points earned and dividing by the number of points possible to arrive at a percentage.

Here is how each general category of work will count toward your final course grade: 

                                               Attendance and Class Participation                           10%

                                               Quizzes and Written Assignments                            40%

                                               Passport                                                                              20%

                                               Spring Schedule                                                                20%

                                               Required Events                                                               10%

This is the grading scale, based on your overall percentage in the course. I do not give +/- grades.

                                               A                             90% or above

                                               B                             80% – 89%

                                               C                             70% – 79%

                                               D                             60% – 69%

                                               F                              59% or less

Instructor Course Policies

Instructor's Course Attendance Policy

Attendance and Engagement is required at all class meetings. If you must be absent, be sure to email me ahead of time, and understand that you are still responsible for coursework due and material covered that day. Absences may be made up by scheduling an office visit or Zoom call with me. Please see the current Student Handbook for the college attendance policy especially as it pertains to excused absences. 

Instructor's Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Integrity. Most of the assignments done in this class will be collaborative in nature, but you are still expected to do your own work. Always acknowledge any assistance you receive from another person or from AI. Any instance of cheating (e.g., blindly copying another’s work or the product of AI and passing that off as your own work) will result in a zero (0) for the assignment. A severe enough instance, or a repeated pattern of cheating, will result in a grade of “F” for the course as well as referral for judicial review. Please see the current Student Handbook for the college's Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule

All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

Undergraduate:  SP25 Final Exam Schedule    Graduate:  

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy

Accessibility and Disability Services