The main goal of this course is to welcome you into the scholarly community. To feel welcome in a community is to feel one is part of something larger than oneself; to have the sense that one's talents are valued by others; and to be acquainted with the aims, ideals, rules, policies, and expectations of the group. To feel welcome in a community is also to feel in control of one's destiny in the group. Having some measure of independence and control is particularly important in academic communities, where individuals are expected to exercise freedom of thought and initiative.

OpenSeminar is designed to support and empower you, helping you create and maintain open lines of communication vertically with mentors and horizontally with students. We offer free membership in the OpenSeminar in Research Ethics (OSRE) online community and encourage you to interview one of your faculty advisers.

Healthy communities deliberately and intentionally acculterate new members. They communicate clearly the roles and responsibilities of old and new members alike. They encourage members to work together, watching out for each other and holding each other accountable. They inspire confidence and comfort. They not only enhance each individual's ability to achieve their goals; they also enhance the productive efficiency of the team as a whole.

REMINDER: Always look left to see if there is a required assignment before moving ahead.