The first year of college, especially the first semester, is not an easy time for students. However, research shows that this is also a crucial moment to get students involved and engaged in order to assure a successful undergraduate experience. So, when the College of Liberal Arts revamped its General Education program a few years ago, we created a new program geared specifically toward first-year students which combines classes that stress academic skills – the College Seminars – with co-curricular programming that promotes life skills – the Common Hour.
The College Seminar introduces first-year students to analytical and creative thinking at the college level. Many students enter college accustomed to simply absorbing information and memorizing facts; however we want them to be able to analyze information and criticize ideas (constructively, of course!). Last fall’s seminars included topics ranging from “Fantastic Journeys in the Ancient Greek World” to “What can the physical sciences and computer engineering tell us about the brain?” These courses provide a challenging and supportive environment for students to begin engaging in critical inquiry and participating in scholarly discourse.
The Common Hour, a complement to the seminar, focuses on life beyond the classroom and assists students in navigating their academic journey. It is one time each week when everyone on campus takes a collective breath, since it is the only activity scheduled from 12 noon -1:00 PM each Wednesday. The Common Hour includes a variety of programs and activities, ranging from a guest speaker associated with the Common Reading (this year’s reading was The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan) to activities designed to help students build skills necessary to succeed in college, like time management, to fun activities designed to give students knowledge about Drew and its founders.
Through the Common Hour, students are encouraged to participate in the life of the university and make effective use of all of its resources. It also provides a useful venue for introducing students to important parts of their education that might take place away from The Forest, such as off-campus and international offerings like the New York Semesters and the Drew International Seminars, so they may begin planning their courses and schedules to participate in one of these life-changing programs. In the spring semester, Common Hour is oriented toward helping students think about their future, with focus on learning about potential majors and programs sponsored by the Career Center. “The Road Trip” program for first year students guides them through the process of self-awareness and career decision-making.
One of the most valuable parts of the Common Hour is the peer mentor program, run by advanced undergraduate students. Peer mentors, one of whom is assigned to each College Seminar, serve as counselors, advocates, and friends to their respective groups. They are chosen through a highly competitive selection process and undergo extensive training prior to the start of the school year, as well as frequent training sessions during the semester. Several Common Hours during the semester are dedicated to small group meetings between the students and their peer mentors, which gives the students a chance to discuss anything from the complexities of living with roommates to balancing homework or the best international seminar to apply for. This is a time when first year students can unwind and get help from fellow students who understand their challenges. Students invariably report that the mentor relationship is essential for helping to make that first year, and beyond, manageable and successful.
Not surprisingly, the mentors themselves profit from the experience as well. They run all aspects of the Common Hour, from the small group meetings mentioned above to the larger, class-wide programs. They are responsible for organizing their students, preparing them for the scheduled activities, motivating them to participate fully, and for monitoring attendance and participation throughout the year. It is a joy to watch the development of the peer mentors over the course of the academic year. They frequently stop by my office for guidance and support – to express frustration when a student doesn’t participate in class or to get tips on motivating students. In this sense they are really learning to be leaders, and getting first-hand experience in how to reach a variety of personalities and find different techniques for developing and motivating involvement. I often joke that they come to sound more like faculty than students! It is truly rewarding to watch them come to understand both themselves and their education in a different way as a result of this experience.
These programs geared toward the first year student have become valuable pillars in the development of Drew students over the last three years. We are now looking at ways to enhance the programs. For instance, this coming fall semester we are piloting a program that links the College Writing classes more directly with the College Seminars so that topics and assignments bridge the two courses. We are also considering seminars on particular themes, such as government or business, and then building additional programming around those issues. These and other initiatives reinforce all that is distinctive about a Drew education and help provide a transformative experience for our students.