Foundations of Excellence: Pilot program aims to deepen first-year experience
September 18, 2013
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First- and second-floor residents of McCutcheon Hall participate in a sponge relay as part of McCutcheon Madness, an all-hall event that was held on Aug. 25. All-hall events are part of the social aspect of the Residential First-Year Experience (FYE) program. (Photo provided) |
University Residences has begun a yearlong pilot program that seeks to help first-year students develop the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to succeed at Purdue.
The Residential First-Year Experience (FYE) program is taking place in McCutcheon and Owen residence halls, says Michael Seals, associate director of residential life. The pilot is in conjunction with the campus-wide Foundations of Excellence initiative, whose goal is to enhance the experience of all first-year students.
As part of the FYE program, McCutcheon's and Owen's student residents participate in programmatic activities involving University Residences and the area's campus partners, and social events as planned by resident assistants. Resident assistants are also leading regular, reflective talks with residents that address monthly, targeted topics, Seals says.
"We hope that FYE's targeted programming and discussions will lead students to start thinking more critically about how they will define their experience at Purdue. We want to expose them to things that will make them successful," Seals says.
"The idea is to instill our students with the foundational building blocks that will lead to their success at all levels here at Purdue and beyond."
The program seeks to develop and equip students for holistic success in several areas. They are academic life, career- and decision-making, civic responsibility, health and wellness, identity development, multicultural awareness and relationships.
Each month, the program is focusing on a theme that is relevant as students navigate their first year of college, Seals says.
For example, in August the program revolved around the theme of setting challenging but reasonable academic goals and achieving them. In September, the program will address alcohol and responsibility, and in October, the program will focus on helping students build healthy relationships.
University Residences staff began developing the FYE program last fall, Seals says. Previously, a first-year experience program that only lasted for the first six weeks of classes existed, but staff members wanted to students to benefit from a yearlong effort.
After this academic year, the program is expected to be rolled out to more residence halls on campus. Staff members plan to develop a plan for doing so this year, and the goal is for the program to reach most first-year students within two years.
As the program reaches more students, staff members will ensure that it fits into the campus-wide Foundations of Excellence model to improve all aspects of the first-year experience, says Julie Talz, director of residential life for University Residences.
"This pilot program focused on first-year success is a great way to see if this model could work for all first-year students in our system," Talz says.
"This yearlong effort to be intentional on first-year adjustment and success will only help our students to become engaged, to develop good habits and to build a strong foundation for their college experience."
Writer: Amanda Hamon, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu