Liberal Studies Program > First-Year Program > For Faculty > FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: Chicago Quarter & Focal Point Seminar

Discover Chicago

The Pre-Immersion Week meeting for all members of Discover Chicago teaching teams is typically scheduled the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the start of Immersion week. 

Chicago Quarter Service Day (CQSD) provides new students with the opportunity to become acquainted firsthand with DePaul’s Vincentian mission, as well as their new DePaul family. If you are seeking more information, please contact Katie Sullivan, in University Ministry, Student Center 311, 773-325-4490.

Explore Chicago

The “Great Starts” meeting for all members of Explore Chicago teaching teams is typically scheduled the Wednesday before the quarter starts. 

Common Hour (Chicago Quarter)

Starting in Autumn 2026, each Chicago Quarter course will include seven one-hour modules that constitute Common Hour, a co-curricular program designed to address common issues of transition for first-year students. Common Hour is comprised of information sessions, discussions, activities, and workshops designed to help students make a successful academic and developmental transition into DePaul University.  The Common Hour modules will be delivered by Chicago Quarter Mentors with support and input from faculty. The redesigned Common Hour curriculum will cover topics such as connecting to the DePaul community, exploring the nature and purpose of a university education and engaging in constructive dialogue.

Assessment data about Common Hour show that faculty participation in Common Hour has an important and positive effect. The new configuration of the CQ teaching team announced in January 2026 means that CQMs will deliver Common Hour with support and input from instructors, who will therefore be required to attend all Common Hour sessions.

Faculty

The Chicago Quarter course proposal deadline is set for December 15 in order to meet the April date when information about Chicago Quarter courses is posted online for the incoming students to view. The intervening four-month period is necessary to allow the committee to review, possibly request revisions, and finally approve new course proposals; and then for the Office of the First-Year Program to coordinate the scheduling of 100+ sections of Discover and Explore Chicago in coordination with some 40 departments and programs drawn from across the colleges and schools of the university, followed by NSFE's assignment of teaching teams.

Whiel there are three Focal Point proposal deadlines, please be aware that proposal should be submitted at least two quarters the first time an instructor anticipates teacing the course.   Anyone interested in proposing a course for the FY@broad Program should be aware that the Focal Point Committee only considers the proposal qua LSP 112; to have a course considered for FY@broad, the proposer should contact Scott Ozaroski in Study Abroad.

Staff (Chicago Quarter)

If I have questions about...

Who is the right person to contact?

​Proposing a new Chicago Quarter course or Focal Point Seminar;
Scheduling a CQ course or Focal Point Seminar

Michael Edwards, LSP/Office of the FYP, 773-325-1187

Online Teaching Evaluations​Reina Ashley Nomura, LSP Coordinator, 773-325-5042
​Class budget;
Transportation & logistics
​Brent Nunn, Office of the FYP, 773-325-7188
CQ Welcome Letter;
logistics; website
 Heather Easley​, Office of the FYP, 773-325-8785
Reimbursements & honorarium payments
 accountspayable@depaul.edu
LASFS@depaul.edu
Chicago Quarter Mentors, staff professionals, or how to become a CQM or staff professional Yasmeen Nanlawala,
New Student & Family Engagement, 773-325-2273
New Student Service Day Katie Sullivan, University Ministry, 773-325-4490
Honors Discover & Explore Chicago Jennifer Conary​, Honors Program, 773-325-4640
FY@broad Scott Ozaroski, Study Abroad, 312-362-6347
QR: LSP 120 David Jabon, Quantitative Reasoning Center, 773-325-7248
First-Year Writing:  WRD 102, 103, 104 Tim Elliot, First-Year Writing, 773-325-2486
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