The First Year Experience is a comprehensive educational program that responds to The University College vision and purpose of "fostering intellect, creativity, and character in an active, student-centered learning community." The First Year Experience goals and objectives are:
Goals:
- To establish a connection to the college
- To provide a meaningful, coherent, integrated, and fulfilling experience to enable students to stay the course and successfully graduate
- To engage in a shared learning experience
- To make the FYE a central and sustainable part of the institution’s fabric, eliciting broad-based institutional support
- To understand the roles and responsibilities and benefits of membership in a community of learners
- To expose students to diverse ideas, experiences, and people
- To acquire knowledge and skills for self–directed learning and academic achievement
- To provide students with services and support to be academically and socially successful
Objectives:
- To assist students to attain sufficient academic preparation for college
- To increase student-to-student interaction
- To increase faculty-to-student interaction...especially out of class
- To increase student involvement and time on campus
- To link the curriculum (in-class) and the co-curriculum (out-of-class experience)
- To increase academic engagement by communicating high academic expectations
