Abstract:
The purpose of this project was to create a First Year Experience seminar course for
students during their first semester of their freshman year at Ball State University. The goal of
this project was to improve induction and transition programs for first year students and increase
retention rates into the second year of school. This creative project was developed to help first
year students at Ball State University successfully transition into the university and receive the
appropriate amount of academic and social support from peers, faculty, and staff so that higher
retention and success rates can be achieved. First year students at the university experience
many new challenges and obstacles when adjusting to life at Ball State University and being
away from home for the first time. By requiring students to enroll in a First Year Experience
(FYE) seminar course during the first semester of their first year, the university creates an
academic and social transition experience to continue students’ adjustment period throughout
their first semester.
This course is a part of each matriculating student’s required credits, and is used to
educated students about campus life, resources on campus, life skills to help them be successful
in college, and connect them with their peers through a similar experience. This FYE seminar course provides students with extra academic and social experience to encourage a healthy and
positive connection with the campus culture and climate. Students will receive course credit,
build stronger relationships with professors, staff, and peers, and receive academic and social
support throughout their first semester to improve student retention rates and graduation success.
