Students' first year is goal of new program

By Rachel King

SUNY Fredonia has teamed up with Foundations of Excellence (FoE) in the First College Year in order to examine the freshman first-year experience. FoE will be used to conduct a self-study to look at a variety of dimensions of the freshman year. Over sixty faculty, staff, and students have volunteered to examine certain dimensions of the first-year and continued ideas to improve the first-year experience.

FoE has chosen SUNY Fredonia as one of the select group of schools to go through this research process and Fredonia officials are anxious to begin the process. “We have many excellent first-year programs at SUNY Fredonia and the FoE process will make them even better,” said Dr. David Herman, vice president of student affairs.

“Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are collaborating in this effort because it will require both divisions to work together in promoting positive experiences for first-year students," Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Horvath said.

In order to get the word out on this exciting new experience, two informational sessions were held on campus: Tuesday, Sept 19 and Wednesday, Sept 20. At these sessions, students, faulty, and staff were encouraged to be involved in the FoE process.

FoE is designed to be completed within one academic year and uses prior research as well as original research in order to assess the student’s first-year experience. After these results are compiled and analyzed, FoE will offer suggestions for improvement for Fredonia that should enhance the first year significantly.

For more information, please visit the First Year Foundation website, or contact Dr. David Herman, vice president for student affairs, 716-673-3271.