“Utilizing corporate partners for developing learning communities in a first-year management course: Lessons, benefits, and pedagogical approaches”

Abstract: We are responsible for the management and instruction of what is coined a “first year experience” course at our institution. This involves 3 different courses being combined into a singular “experience” for all incoming freshman. It involves the development of learning communities, which engage in experiential project work with a corporate partner from the surrounding business community. The class incorporates lecture, seminar, career-development, academic advising, and project-based learning to freshman students. It also involves the management of 70+ UG teaching assistants by the instructors to administer the lessons. This session will outline how we manage the size and scope of the class, its projects, its corporate partners, and the teaching assistant staff in order to provide a high-quality product delivered across 70+ sections. Attendees will be able to learn project ideas, Gen Z relations lessons, and more takeaways, from our session.