New program designed to aid and welcome first-year students
Jason Salts
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: News
Volunteer State Community College is implementing a new strategy to help first-year students feel more at home in the college environment. This new strategy is called FYE, or the First Year Experience. The first of this new installment was last week with the introduction of the Hospitality Suite.
The Suite was an invitation-only event for first-year, Vol. State students. The students were served a light lunch, and were able to tour the math and science Lab, NewSkills, and the language lab, now collectively called the Learning Help Centers, according to an e-mail for the event.
"We're trying to build a community feeling on the campus," said Chris Vaught, retention support counselor.
"Research has shown that if a student is made to feel more a part of a community, then they are more likely to return to finish their education," added Vaught.
The Hospitality Suite was, in essence, "an open house for the Learning Help Centers," said Vaught.
Over 1,100 invitations were mailed out.
A committee has been assembled to brainstorm ideas such as an end-of-semester celebration similar to the President's Picnic in the fall. The committee's main goal is to make new students' first year as positive as possible.
If this institution is positively received, it will become a permanent fixture for first-time students.
Another facet of this new strategy is ALERT, or Assisting Learning and Educators with Responsive Targeted Report. Central to ALERT is a website from which teachers may refer students to get help. However, educators are encouraged to talk with students directly before referring them. Students can also refer themselves.
The website is up and fully operational.
"It's unlike a lot of the other structures we researched," said Emily Short, director of retention support services. "Chris (Vaught) and others have worked very hard to get this together."
The website is connected to the school site: www.volstate.edu/alerts. Students can also find the website for the First Year Experience at http://www.volstate.edu/FYE or become a fan on Facebook.
The Suite was an invitation-only event for first-year, Vol. State students. The students were served a light lunch, and were able to tour the math and science Lab, NewSkills, and the language lab, now collectively called the Learning Help Centers, according to an e-mail for the event.
"We're trying to build a community feeling on the campus," said Chris Vaught, retention support counselor.
"Research has shown that if a student is made to feel more a part of a community, then they are more likely to return to finish their education," added Vaught.
The Hospitality Suite was, in essence, "an open house for the Learning Help Centers," said Vaught.
Over 1,100 invitations were mailed out.
A committee has been assembled to brainstorm ideas such as an end-of-semester celebration similar to the President's Picnic in the fall. The committee's main goal is to make new students' first year as positive as possible.
If this institution is positively received, it will become a permanent fixture for first-time students.
Another facet of this new strategy is ALERT, or Assisting Learning and Educators with Responsive Targeted Report. Central to ALERT is a website from which teachers may refer students to get help. However, educators are encouraged to talk with students directly before referring them. Students can also refer themselves.
The website is up and fully operational.
"It's unlike a lot of the other structures we researched," said Emily Short, director of retention support services. "Chris (Vaught) and others have worked very hard to get this together."
The website is connected to the school site: www.volstate.edu/alerts. Students can also find the website for the First Year Experience at http://www.volstate.edu/FYE or become a fan on Facebook.