The First Year Program

Intellectual Foundations

The First Year Program

Report to the College Senate

of the

Select Committee

on General Education

8 November 2002

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The success of any academic program inter alia depends on how it is delivered to students. Experience at Buffalo State and other colleges and universities demonstrates that for student success, the first year is crucial. A good, first year program will improve students' academic performance and the college's retention and graduation rates. It can reduce the cost of student recruiting and thereby increase resources for academics. Foundations for Inquiry (BSC 100) will provide a common academic experience around which a coherent first year program can be built. Establishing a high-quality first year program will require cooperation among all three major divisions at Buffalo State: Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Finance & Management.

Buffalo State College should move in the direction of creating a unified first year program, the general outlines of which include:

1.

All students beginning their college career at Buffalo State shall enter one of several first year options in which an instructor is the student's academic advisor for the year:

a.

Freshmen Seminars

b.

Learning Communities

c.

Paired courses ( a mid-point between the first two)

2.

Foundations for Inquiry (BSC 100) can serve as one of several, common first year experiences

Therefore, the Intellectual Foundations Center shall convene a First Year Program Working Committee

1.

Committee members shall include faculty and key personnel responsible for orientation, freshman seminars, learning communities, and other aspects of students' first year experience

2.

The committee shall define the first year program including its objectives, methods and time line.

3.

The committee shall report progress to the College Senate no latter than the end of Fall, 2003.

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The success of any academic program inter alia depends on how it is delivered to students. Experience at Buffalo State and other colleges and universities demonstrates that for student success, the first year is crucial. A good, first year program will improve students' academic performance and the college's retention and graduation rates. It can reduce the cost of student recruiting and thereby increase resources for academics. Foundations for Inquiry (BSC 100) will provide a common academic experience around which a coherent first year program can be built. Establishing a high-quality first year program will require cooperation among all three major divisions at Buffalo State: Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Finance & Management. Buffalo State College should move in the direction of creating a unified first year program, the general outlines of which include:
1.	All students beginning their college career at Buffalo State shall enter one of several first year options in which an instructor is the student's academic advisor for the year:
	a.	Freshmen Seminars
	b.	Learning Communities
	c.	Paired courses ( a mid-point between the first two)
2.	Foundations for Inquiry (BSC 100) can serve as one of several, common first year experiences
Therefore, the Intellectual Foundations Center shall convene a First Year Program Working Committee
1.	Committee members shall include faculty and key personnel responsible for orientation, freshman seminars, learning communities, and other aspects of students' first year experience
2.	The committee shall define the first year program including its objectives, methods and time line.
3.	The committee shall report progress to the College Senate no latter than the end of Fall, 2003.