Best of Florida Schools 2004
Best First-Year Programs

Best First-Year Programs
Freshman Survival 101
When incoming freshmen daydream about college, they envision exciting sports events, caring and concerned professors, and more parties than they’ll ever be able to attend. But the realities of difficult roommates, inedible dining hall food, getting lost on campus, and the infamous “Freshman 15” can sometimes pervade, bursting their perfect bubbles. Luckily, several Florida schools have programs to make a first-year student’s transition to college less stressful, cutting down on newcomers’ nightmares in the process.

Culminating in a five-day cruise, Lynn University’s year-long “First Year Experience” course is one that students can dream about. They meet twice a week in the classroom to learn about topics such as goal-setting, time and stress management, university policies and procedures, leadership, and social responsibility. The faculty mentors also invite students to home-cooked dinners, a beach barbecue, and some rounds of miniature golf. But by far, the most anticipated part of the class is the “Academic Adventure” cruise, a trip covered by Lynn tuition fees.

This January, students participating in the Academic Adventure sailed to the beaches, waterfalls, and jungles of Grand Cayman Island and Jamaica after a semester of reading, attending lectures, and participating in themed celebrations on western Caribbean culture. At each port, students and faculty chaperones participated in planned excursions where they could explore and discover different cultures first-hand. Along the way, students bonded with faculty and classmates. “These are real team-building activities,” says Stacey Amelchenko, course coordinator.

At Florida Southern College, faculty members teach students essential skills via some unconventional courses. “The Examined Life: A Freshman Experience”—a required seminar—offers 37 fun and unique topics to help students improve time management, study and work habits, and communication skills. Some of the most popular seminars have been “The Samurai Spirit,” “The Life, Times, and Ethics of the Simpsons,” and “The World of Dr. Seuss: Seuss-isms or Prescriptions for Being a Successful Student.”

FSC professors are just as excited about these new courses as their students. “It gives them a chance to focus on something that’s passionate to them other than what they’re teaching,” says Carole Obermeyer, vice president for student life. “For example, the samurai course is taught by a chemistry professor who loves martial arts and is a black belt. It’s a chance for students to see her outside of her normal subject matter.”

Rollins College takes the freshman seminar a step further by creating environments where students can live and learn together. Required to take Rollins Conference Courses, first-year students can sign up for the special NEXUS option to become part of a special on-campus community.

“For this option, we have the same students take the same two courses that are linked conceptually,” says Hoyt Edge, RCC program director and the associate dean of faculty. “They also live in close proximity on the same floor or same wing of their residence hall.”

Having roommates and neighbors in the same classes promotes an atmosphere conducive to group learning and unity, increasing the depth and openness of classroom conversations. Many program participants become so close that they even plan to live together after moving off campus. “These are marks of engagement with the material,” Edge says. “When they’re talking about the community inside of class, the kinds of discussions that are carried on are the kind that we want.”

New students at Miami Dade College—InterAmerican worry more about overcoming culture shock than about where their classmates live. “Most of our students are second-language students and recent immigrants to the United States,” says Cecilia Bermudez, director of retention and transition services at the campus’ New Student Center.

While orientation to the campus, its procedures, and classes is important, most MDC students have questions about the American system of education itself. “They want to know what a credit is, the different levels of English they need to go through, and how to get credit for work they’ve already completed in their home country,” Bermudez says. Responding to this demand for information, MDC has added orientation seminars this spring that address these concerns.

MDC officials recently met its incoming students’ special needs by scheduling 47 orientations in both English and Spanish this school year, with plans to add some in French or Creole in the future. Having so many different sessions to choose from also guarantees that most students at this commuter campus can find one time that fits into their busy schedules.

At the beginning of the school year, eager freshmen sign up to participate in campus activities with the best intentions. But staying up late playing video games, having heart-to-hearts with roommates, or studying for a first exam are just some of the things that keep them from showing up as planned. At Nova Southeastern University, each freshman makes a PACT to get involved in a school activity and has a partner to help them stick to it.

The Partners Achieving Community Together Program begins during pre-college orientation, when representatives from student affairs describe the services they offer and the advantages of taking part in their programs. They then ask students to develop one goal to complete within the first two weeks of school. “We ask them to complete their goal during the first two weeks because this is when students are making decisions about how to structure their time and are looking to make university connections,” says Terry Morrow, program designer and assistant director of student activities and leadership development.

Areas of involvement include Student Government, Performing Arts, Intramurals, Greek Life, and Special Interest Clubs and Organizations. After students choose their goal, they go partner shopping to find someone with a similar goal—the person who will become their PACT partner. PACT partners sign a card that includes their mutual goal and each student’s contact information. Rather than prick their fingers, they take a picture together to seal their PACT. Once school starts, PACT cards and pictures are delivered to each partner as a reminder of their commitment.

“Some students feel hesitant to go to a meeting or event on their own,” Morrow says. “By connecting students with similar interests and having them provide each other with their contact information, students automatically have someone with whom they share an interest to connect with on campus.”             Research shows that students who are involved on campus have higher retention rates than those who aren’t. PACT’s first informal measurements report a 66 percent increase in undergraduate student involvement. “By getting involved, students become more likely to complete their degree, grow personally, and gain skills that will benefit them in their future profession and civic life,” Morrow says.

By Anna Campitelli

Contact Amelchenko at samelchenko@lynn.edu, Obermeyer at cobermeyer@flsouthern.edu, Edge at hedge@rollins.edu, Bermudez at cbermude@mdcc.edu, or Morrow at tmorrow@nova.edu.

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