RADF 101: University Seminar
Credit Hours: (3) Three hours seminar.
The University Seminar (RADF 101) fosters a strong sense of belonging while laying the foundation for student success at Radford University. The seminar connects students with their peers, faculty, and the broader university community, cultivating an environment where they feel supported and valued. Through this experience, students develop essential skills for academic and personal achievement, engage with digital literacy by identifying credible information sources and using digital tools ethically, and explore the influence of place—whether Appalachia, the Commonwealth, or beyond—on their education and sense of identity. Through reflection and connection, the seminar promotes civic engagement and prepares students to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Content
The following content areas support the course learning outcomes through integrated skill development and applied first-year learning experiences
Academic and Digital Navigations
This content area equips students with the tools and habits necessary to successfully navigate the digital and academic landscape of the university. Students develop foundational competencies in digital literacy, information evaluation, academic research, and ethical technology use while building the core academic behaviors essential for first-year success.
SLO Connection
Success and Career Strategy
This content area supports students in understanding how their academic choices connect to long-term goals, financial wellbeing, and professional development. Students explore career pathways aligned with their academic cluster while developing early professional identity and financial literacy.
SLO Connection
Place, Community, and Civic Identity
This content area situates students within the broader context of place and community. Through exploration of Appalachia, the Commonwealth, and broader societal contexts, students examine how geography, culture, and civic systems shape educational experiences and opportunities.
SLO Connection
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The University Seminar will be conducted using instructional strategies that emphasize community building, collaborative learning, and shared ways of thinking within academic clusters. Seminars will function as interactive learning environments designed to foster a sense of belonging while supporting students’ transition to university-level learning.
Instructional approaches will include guided discussion, brief lectures, writing-to-learn activities, and collaborative projects that engage students in examining how knowledge is developed, communicated, and applied across related disciplines. Through group work, peer feedback, and student presentations, students practice communication, reflection, and critical inquiry while exploring connections between academic pathways and personal goals.
Experiential learning is a central component of the course. Seminars will incorporate activities such as guest speakers, field experiences, and place-based or community-engaged learning to connect academic inquiry to lived experience. Each seminar will culminate in a collaborative or reflective project that allows students to synthesize learning, articulate developing interests, and demonstrate growth in foundational academic and civic skills.
Specific instructional strategies and activities will be adapted to the seminar’s academic cluster alignment and student population while maintaining consistent learning goals across sections.
Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment Measures
Assessment in RADF 101 will emphasize reflective and applied learning, including structured reflections, academic planning artifacts, participation, and integrative end-of-course reflections. Common rubrics and shared criteria will support consistency across sections while allowing flexibility in instructional approach.
Other Course Information
N/A
Review and Approval
April 27, 2026. Effective Fall 2027