Topics and style guidance. The First Year Assessment listserv is an online magazine which features invited essays on assessment topics applicable to first-year programs and students. The core idea of FYA-List is to provide a “good idea” to subscribers that can be read in 5-10 minutes during the normal process of checking e-mail. Our ultimate goal is to encourage the use of assessment as means for improving the collegiate experiences of first-year students, both in and out of the classroom.

Invited essays should be written at a “knowledgeable generalist” level. A length of about 1000 words is ideal, although longer essays may be acceptable. Articles should be thoughtful and scholarly, but should be neither overly technical nor heavily referenced/footnoted. Authors can compensate for the restrictions of this brevity and style by imbedding links to more detailed resources existing elsewhere on the Web. (We can post supporting resources on a separate National Resource Center web page or refer readers to existing pieces elsewhere.) Authors will also be asked to propose two or three discussion questions that will be posted to the list in the weeks following the essay.

Invitations to Authors. National Resource Center staff identifies most potential authors. However, self-nomination is also encouraged. An individual interested in authoring a piece should contact Barbara F. Tobolowsky (803-777-5193; barbarat@mailbox.sc.edu) to discuss the proposed submission. Authors will work with Angela to establish a date for submitting the essay and for editorial assistance.

Overview of the Process

1. Invited essay authors are identified (by invitation or self-nomination)
   
2. Topic and target date are established
   
3. A draft essay is provided to the National Resource Center for feedback
   
4. The final essay and author bio are provided to the National Resource Center
   
5. The essay is converted to a Web page by Center staff
   
6. The Center introduces the author and topic to list members via e-mail
   
7. Author posts the essay as an e-mail message (from his/her personal email account) to the list
   
8. Web version is posted and archived with biographical information
   
9. Author participates in any follow up discussion of his/her article on the list as may be appropriate

Posting of articles
The National Resource Center Staff will assist the author in posting the essay to the listserv. Detailed instructions and explanations are provided at: http://sc.edu/fye/resources/assessment/
posting/index.html While this is a simple process overall, it is important to remember that over 1000 subscribers receive each e-mail message from FYA-List. Carefully following the instructions ensures smooth delivery of essays and avoids confusion and duplicate postings.

Article Archives
In addition to the posting of new articles, the National Resource Center has collaborated with the Policy Center on the First Year of College to maintain an indexed archive of all previous FYA-L articles. Each author maintains copyright of his/her essay but agrees to allow to National Resource Center to host the essays on its website. Authors also agree allow FYA-L subscribers and web visitors to freely copy and use the essay for non-commercial purposes.