Started in fall 1992, the Freshman Seminar Program establishes early intellectual contact with faculty members to enhance the freshman experience at Cal. Seminars give faculty a chance to cover topics such as their emerging research or outside interests that they would not normally have a chance to teach. The seminars also allow students to explore a scholarly topic that is intriguing or even unfamiliar to them, broadening their intellectual explorations while allowing them to interact directly with faculty. At the Freshman & Sophomore Seminars Reception, awards were given to faculty members who have displayed a high level of participation in the seminar program.
Gold Awards were given to faculty members who have been integral to the program. In recognition of having taught over twenty seminars, CNR Professors George W. Chang of Nutritional Science and Toxicology and David L. Wood of Environmental Science, Policy and Management have received the Gold Award.
The Blue Award, in recognition of having taught ten or more seminars, was given to J. Keith Gilless, CNR Dean and Professor of ESPM, Richard Malkin, Professor Emeritus of Plant and Microbial Biology, Loy E. Volkman, Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology, and David Zilberman, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics.
