Theme One: Orientation to Cortland

Suggested Discussion Topics and Activities:

1. Understand the purpose of COR 101 and get to know your COR 101 classmates.
   • Icebreakers
   • Review syllabus
   • Have students complete and turn in the Student Information Sheet
   • Ask students to write down or discuss the purpose of COR 101
   • Ask students what they want to get out of this seminar
   • Ask what they expect of their instructor and TA
   • Biographical Poem (PDF)
   • Lifelines activity (PDF): a get to know you activity that gets students to think about the people their life
   • Sentence Game (PDF): a lighthearted activity to learn more about your students
   • Icebreaker links (PDF): see additional activities to help get to know your students
2. Learn the layout of campus
   • Have student complete a Cortland Geography Quiz
   • Arrange a Scavenger Hunt (PDF) on campus for photos of various campus offices and facilities. Break into teams and send them off!
   • Introduce students to the library through the Library Web Scavenger Hunt Activity (PDF) (Directions and Answer Key) (PDF) or the Library Scavenger Hunt Activity (PDF)and (Directions) (PDF). This activity guides students through the library while collecting clues that lead to a final assignment. These assignment can be completed as in or out of class activities. (You might want the Library Scavenger Hunt Unscrambled Clues (PDF)available to you as your students work through the hunt)
   • Ask students to draw a map of SUNY Cortland and how they perceive the campus.
   • Work on the Campus Resources Worksheet (PDF) / Campus Resources Worksheet Answer Key (PDF)
3. Review critical policies and procedures and where to obtain information on these policies
   • Have students identify all the campus sources of information
   • Have each student identify important resources related to their major and goals
4. Set up and use SUNY Cortland email account
5. Review Code of Conduct
   • Have students visit Judicial Affairs website and critique the Code of Conduct
   • Discuss norms, standards, and rules in class
   • Ask your Teaching Assistant to come up with typical "scenarios" or case studies. Have students reflect in groups about what thet would/wouldn't do in this situation.
   • Ask Judicial Affairs to visit your class and lead a discussion. Contact: Nan Pasquarello
6. Begin to identify opportunities for involvement and how students would like to become involved on campus
   • Have students share what they were involved with in high school and what they want to be involved in at Cortland
   • Have each student investigate their interests, and interview a student or faculty member involved with that interest
   • Encourage the students to read the campus paper
   • Provide students with a list of clubs/organizations. Have students attend one meeting and report back to the class
   • Activity Sheet (PDF): a tool for students to keep track of and reflect on their on and off campus activities
   • Guidelines and Evaluation for Reflective Papers (PDF): is a resource to assist students when they write a reflective paper regarding their campus activities
7. Help students identify the culture of Cortland
   • Encourage students to explore some aspect of the City of Cortland - a landmark, a festival, some history
   • Ask students to participate in a SUNY Cortland tradition. Discuss what makes a tradition? How will they leave their mark at SUNY Cortland?
   • Have the class create a collage of ideas, pictures, words that define Cortland. This can be individually, in small groups, or as a large class project
   • Have small groups create posters that capture an element of SUNY Cortland. Ask students to choose a theme and create a poster that captures that theme
   • Encourage students to read The Dragon Chronicle, and discuss its contents.