The first year of a university education can be a bit overwhelming, what with adapting to a new environment, getting in the flow of course work, and making decisions about majors. West Virginia Universitys Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences has created a series of one-hour courses that are designed to give first-year students some off-the-beaten-path choices while helping them refine their career goals, learn new skills, and make connections with other students and faculty.

The five courses run a gamut of subjects from ecology and working with animals to bonsai and the art of dining.

We wanted to give new students some fun choices that can help them lighten up their schedules while still providing them with some really useful skills and exposing them to different career opportunities,said Amber Hines, Davis College recruitment coordinator.

To develop the courses, Hines worked with Hillar Klandorf, professor of animal and nutritional sciences and resident faculty leader for Lyon Tower, the residential college for Davis. The sections have drawn a mix of students from programs within the Davis College and from other WVU academic units.

The five courses are:

• Dining with Style, taught by Cindy Fitch, associate professor of human nutrition and foods. The course will introduce formal dining etiquette useful for job interviews and other work-related social occasions.

• Research and Careers in Agricultural and Resource Economics, taught by Alan Collins, associate professor of resource management. The course will introduce ongoing research efforts in the nationally recognized WVU program such as aquaculture, water quality and Geographical Information Systems.

• Adventures in Natural Resources Ecology and Management, taught by Jim Anderson, associate professor of wildlife and fisheries resources. This course will offer an overview of careers in the natural resource field, featuring trips to various management and recreational sites.

• Bonsai, taught by Todd West, associate professor of horticulture. This course will introduce the thousand-year-old art of ornamental tree shaping through hands-on experience and trips to various bonsai collections in the region.

• Experience in Animal Science, taught by Matt Wilson, assistant professor of animal and nutritional sciences. From agricultural to exotic animals, this course will introduce students to potential careers and explain how best to pursue them.

Space is still available in some courses. For additional information, contact Hines at 304-293-2691 or Amber.Hines@mail.wvu.edu .