All-Instructor Symposium 2025 | Wednesday, May 14th | 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
The required All-Instructor Symposium will take place on Wednesday, May 14, from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM.Designed for both new and returning instructors for Fall 2025, the All-Instructor Symposium serves as the cornerstone of the ongoing Hullabaloo U instructor development opportunities, community of practice, and recognition of excellence within the First Year Experience. Symposium will kick off with an Opening Session featuring a welcome from our administration, announcement of annual First Year Experience awards, and a keynote address from Dr. Dan Friedman, a national expert on the first-year experience and student success. Two concurrent breakout sessions will follow the Opening Session.
Symposium Format
Both virtual and in-person attendance options are being offered for Symposium:- In-Person – MSC Bethancourt Ballroom (MSC 2300 CDE) - Breakfast will be provided. Check-in and breakfast begin at 8:00 AM.
- Virtual - live-streamed event in synchronous Zoom webinar format. Zoom links will be provided several days before the event.
Symposium Schedule
- Check-In & Breakfast – 8:00 - 8:30 AM
- Opening Session (Welcome, Awards & Keynote) - 8:30 - 10:00 AM
- Concurrent Breakout Session 1 - 10:10-11:00 AM
- Concurrent Breakout Session 2 - 11:10 AM -12:00 PM
Keynote
The Power and Purpose of a First-Year Seminar | Dr. Dan Friedman
Seminars for first-year students have been shown to enhance academic performance and engagement and have been recognized by the AAC&U as a high-impact practice. This keynote will focus on the elements that contribute to a successful first-year course and will serve to inspire and motivate instructors to make the most of courses for first-year students. Dr. Friedman will also present a breakout session in each session block on Fostering Community and Belonging. Community building in first-year seminars can positively impact students’ sense of belonging and learning. This session will present a model for building community in ways that can be more natural and organic, while allowing students to gain affirmation and validation about their experiences. We will also explore the role of the instructor in creating positive relationships with students. Participants will learn specific and tangible strategies, and a packet of resources will be shared. |

About Dr. Dan Friedman: Dr. Friedman is the Assistant Vice President of University 101 Programs and the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience at the University of South Carolina. He leads an integrated unit that focuses on helping students thrive through their transitions into, through, and out of the University. In his role with University 101 Programs, Dan provides leadership for six academic courses, including 320 sections of the nationally renowned first-year seminar taught by over 300 instructors and 300 peer leaders.
Dan also has oversight of the National Resource Center, which is the trusted expert, internationally recognized leader, and clearinghouse for scholarship, policy, and best practice for all postsecondary student transitions. The NRC provides opportunities for the exchange of practical and scholarly information as well as the discussion of trends and issues in our field through the convening of conferences and online courses; publication of scholarly practice books, research reports, a peer-reviewed journal, guides, and newsletters; and generating, supporting, and disseminating research and scholarship.
Friedman earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Virginia and is an affiliate faculty member in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at USC. Prior to coming to the University of South Carolina, he served as director of Freshman Seminar at Appalachian State University and assistant professor of Higher Education. His area of research and scholarship has centered on the first-year experience, teaching and learning, and assessment. Friedman regularly consults with institutions across the country and serves as an invited faculty for institutes on a variety of FYE subjects. He is passionate about baseball, Bruce Springsteen, Legos, and spending time with his two daughters.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Following the Opening Session, there will be two concurrent breakout sessions, the majority of which will be led by returning Hullabaloo U instructors. Breakout sessions are designed to provide a forum for sharing ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches to enhance the Hullabaloo U experience.- In-Person presentations will be livestreamed for virtual participants.
- All sessions will also be recorded and posted to this website after the event.