Coming to college means navigating a new campus, maybe a new city, and definitely a new level of independence. Choosing what to study, who to befriend, and which extracurricular activities to pursue is all very exciting but can also be overwhelming.
The College of Engineering Class of 2029 is being invited to enroll in the new First Year Seminar—a semester-long series of weekly sessions designed to help first-year students build community and connect to resources that will help them succeed
“We designed this program to be interactive and appealing,” said Treci Bonime, assistant dean for undergraduate studies, who serves as an advisor to first-year students and understands the challenges they face.
She worked with Associate Dean Alaine Allen and Program Manager Kaz Shindle from the Community Engagement and Outreach team to develop the pilot program that will bring 75 first-year students together with ten teaching assistants (TAs), who were selected from among nearly 50 upperclass students who applied for the positions.
“We held focus groups with students, and we were excited to learn from them what we can do to make it easier for first-year students to find their community here,” said Allen.
