At ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV, we provide a comprehensive program to assist first-year students in their adjustment to college life. It is our hope that ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV will become a fast second home for you and that you’ll feel welcome and supported as you connect with the ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV community and explore your strengths, goals, and callings.
Central components of the first-year program are Welcome Weekend (new student orientation), the Hike, and First-Year Foundations (FYE1000). FYE1000 provides first-year students a space to transition into college with an emphasis on meaningful relationships, intentional reflection, and collaborative learning. Each course component is designed around COMMUNITY, CURIOSITY, and CALLING. Learning tasks in this course are intended to develop a growth mindset, motivate life-long learning, and apply critical thinking to complex problems.
In FYE1000, you will meet 30-35 students who are part of your “learning community†– these classmates will become trusted companions and join you for four consecutive classes this year (FYE1000 – First-Year Foundations, BIB1050 – Exploring the Bible, PSY1200 – Essentials of Behavioral Science, and HIS1050 – Current Issues in Historical Context.)
You and your learning community will be connected with both an upper-class student mentor and a faculty mentor who, in addition to teaching, will be available for questions, advice, or support throughout your adjustment to college life. Also vital to the first-year experience is a community of believers coming together through growth groups, a Christian liberal arts common experience through the Grace Core, and extracurricular opportunities through various clubs and campus involvement.