Baker University’s new liberal studies program has been implemented, and freshmen will begin to experience the changes in the program starting with fall enrollment.

Freshmen are currently enrolled in LS 111 Introduction to Liberal Studies, a course each student is required to take his or her first year at Baker.

However, this fall, freshmen will now be required to enroll in LS 112 Self and Other for the spring semester, as well as co-enroll in a linked course related to the course topic.

“Basically the big difference is that the freshmen will also take LS 112, but they’re going to have to take another course linked to it at the same time,” Erin Joyce, interim assistant dean for liberal studies, said. “LS 112 is about ethics and values and that type of thing.”

The changes in the LS program came from discussion among faculty members about how to incorporate important skills in the classroom differently.

“In the liberal studies program, … what it enables faculty to do is have classes where it’s really more of students and teachers working together, as opposed to a professor lecturing on some given topic,” Mark Bandre, vice president for enrollment management and student development, said. “They have a unique topic area.”

Bandre said the admissions office is using the new liberal studies program to attract prospective students to Baker.

“Lots of colleges can talk about small class sizes, personal attention, even the United Methodist affiliation. … But when you take all those attributes of Baker and throw in the really unique features of the liberal studies program, it’s really distinctive,” Bandre said. “And that’s part of the admission office’s goal is to make sure prospective students know what’s unique about Baker. And (the liberal studies program) is one for sure.”

Another change is the addition of a spring semester to the First Year Salon course.

Joyce said although more credits are required of freshmen this year, it is an advantage to them, as the new LS program does not include a checklist of general education courses students must take.

“Also the new thing that we have is the second semester salon, … we’ve now extended that into the spring as well (as the fall),” Joyce said. “So, there’s more required of second semester freshmen, but they don’t have that big checklist of stuff of things to get done before (they) graduate.”

The extension of the First Year Salon courses brought the need for another group of First Year Salon student leaders, juniors or seniors who serve as co-instructors with the instructor for the salon courses.

“Last year, we only had SN 101, so people were only there for the first semester, and now I’m having to find people for the second semester,” Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said.

Freshmen have been informed about the enrollment process and the new program through their salon course instructors. All students must meet with their adviser before enrolling for the spring semester.

All students must meet with their adviser before enrolling.