Succeed in College and Beyond

Dozens of colleges and universities around the country have successfully implemented First-Year Experience (FYE) programs like the one at NSC. Time and again, these programs increase student satisfaction and make it more likely that students will earn their degrees (Swing & Barefoot, 2002).

FYE seminars also can lead to increased student achievement. Students enrolled in FYE programs say they learn more than they do in traditional courses, and studies have linked FYE courses to better course grades (Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, 2008).

At NSC, the First-Year Experience incorporates several factors that have been consistently tied to student satisfaction and success, including:

1. Extensive student-faculty interaction
2. Extensive interaction among students
3. The development of friendships and campus community
4. Courses that combine content from two or more disciplines (e.g., Biology combined with History)
5. Excellent teaching
6. Active student involvement in the learning process
7. Relevant, engaging course themes (e.g., Terrorism; Human Cloning)