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University of Wyoming
What is Synergy?
Synergy is a nationally acclaimed learning community for first-year students that provides a challenging set of courses in a supportive environment.

The Synergy program consists of four courses; three fall University courses and one spring course. The Synergy Learning Community fulfills requirements of all majors on campus, and it also serves students who have not yet declared a major.

Synergy's courses satisfy 5 University Studies requirements and include the highest demand first-year courses. Synergy's courses satisfy the requirements for students who are admitted with conditions to the University.
 
Who Are Synergy Students?
Students who show any indication of benefiting from smaller class sizes and innovative approaches to curriculum are invited into the learning community first - indicators might include GPA or ACT scores.

Students also join Synergy to experience a smaller classroom setting during their first-year with strong focus on challenging and relevant curriculum.

Synergy recruits the finest instructors at UW to teach in the learning community, and the curriculum has won a national award for its success in strengthening academic skills and engaging students' creativity.

Students who participate in Synergy earn significantly higher first-year GPA scores and earn lower academic probation than students before the learning community began.  Approximately 150 students participate in the learning community each year.

Synergy Students will:
  • Interact with outstanding faculty, instructors, and advisers
  • Join other Synergy students and faculty for an on-campus retreat prior to the beginning of the fall semester
  • Take three core courses in the fall with the same group of students (along with an elective of their choice) and take one core course together in the spring
  • Receive help with study strategies, test-taking skills, computers, note taking, reading and writing skills, and planning the future
  • Establish friendships while participating in study groups and supplemental instruction

 
Orientation
Synergy students will be pre-registered for a section of Orientation reserved just for them.  Students will also receive a letter early in Spring 2009 asking for confirmation of attendance.  The Synergy Orientation section is scheduled for June 22nd and 23rd, 2009.  Students will have an excellent opportunity to meet with their instructors, peers, and learn more about what the program is. 

 

 
Synergy Seminar
On August 20-22, 2009, new freshmen will have the opportunity to integrate with campus, gain important knowledge about their transition to UW, and have fun during Summit ‘09.

The program features a welcome address from the President, guest speakers, and small group time with experienced students and faculty focused on academic support and strategies for successful transition. On Saturday, students will engage in a campus or local community activity designed to highlight the value of service and involvement to higher level learning. Planned by some of UW’s top faculty, staff, and students, the program will help students begin their first week of classes with a leg up for success.

More information will be distributed at orientation; in the meantime please check this site for updates: http://www.uwyo.edu/summit/.
 

 
Course Connections
During their first semester, students take three courses that are connected in readings, projects, and themes.  
  • American and Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) (lecture and exam-based course, )
  • College Composition & Rhetoric (ENGL 1010) (reading and writing focused courses)
  • Critical Reflection in Intellectual Communities (UWYO 1450). 

Students enroll in a fourth Synergy course their second semester, Introduction to Public Speaking (COJO 1010), which builds on themes and assignments begun in the first-semester Synergy courses. 

The composition, intellectual community, and public speaking courses work together to provide a focused writing-and-speaking cohort designed for maximum student-teacher interaction.  Enrollment for these courses is lower than enrollment in regular sections.  American and Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) is a large-enrollment course that introduces students to the expectations of university lecture and exam based courses.

 

 
Primary and Secondary Research:
Students learn college research skills in all courses and learn field research strategies in the Intellectual Communities course.

 

 
Peer Mentors
Students from previous Synergy programs are peer mentors in the intellectual community courses.  Peer mentors participate in the pre-semester seminar, attend all classes, lead small group discussions and workshops, model assignments, and offer technology help for web portfolio work.

 

 
Supplemental Instruction
Synergy sponsors supplemental instruction for the American and Wyoming Government course, offering out-of-class study and essay-writing sessions to all students in the Synergy section of POLS 1000.