First Year Experience
Welcome to the First Year Experience (FYE) Program at Tri-C
Starting college is a major step, and FYE helps new students start their Tri-C career on the right path. There are four major goals for FYE:
- Connect - You will connect with College personnel, resources, and peers to build a campus community and support system.
- Engage - You will be active in the College community and be responsible for your own learning and development.
- Plan - You will explore your personal and career interests and plot out a course sequence for degree completion. Additionally, you will reflect on what it means to be a student and develop a success plan that will help you balance school and personal demands.
- Succeed - You will acquire the necessary skills, habits and resources to help you achieve your goals.
FYE features a series of activities designed to help students succeed. The program is customized to each student’s individual needs, and may include the following:
- New Student Orientation (NSO) introduces students to Tri-C policies, procedures and resources. Additionally, students receive an individual counseling session, campus tour, and assistance with course selection and registration. Find out more on the Orientation website
- New Student Convocation (ZGEN 1003) is a celebration of the start of students’ Tri-C journey and a formal introduction to the campus community. Students learn about campus life and College expectations, and connect with campus resources, faculty and other students in their programs. Note that ZGEN 1003 and GEN 1070 are co-requisites. Students must register for both courses.
- First Year Success Seminar (GEN 1070) is a one-credit course that develops lifelong learning skills and connects students to College resources. Course topics include time management, managing college and personal finances, connecting to essential college resources, information literacy, and more. Students will also begin working on their academic plan. Note that GEN 1070 and ZGEN 1003 are co-requisites. Students must register for both courses.
- Second Semester Pathway Course (SSP 1800) is a one-credit course where students are connected to peers in their degree or discipline. Further, students gain clarity around their career path by participating in career exploration, receiving mentoring by a faculty member in their discipline, and completing a full academic plan.
- Summer Internship Program provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable experience by working at a Tri-C campus or off-campus location while attending summer classes. The program includes:
• Tuition for one summer class, up to four credit hours (does not include supplemental fees)
• Financial support for one textbook, up to $125.
• Wages of $10 an hour for up to 100 hours of work.
Students who complete the First Year Success Seminar and enroll in the Second Semester Pathway Course receive priority consideration for the Summer Internship Program. - Fast Forward is Tri-C’s foundational learning program. Students who qualify for Fast Forward (based on ACCUPLACER scores) may be required to follow this program before proceeding to future classes. Foundational courses are in math and/or English, and they must be started in the first semester at the College.
- Bridges are intensive courses designed to help students complete their math or English requirements FASTER and with greater SUCCESS! Bridges may be required based on the student’s math and English ACCUPLACER scores.
